Colorado State Basin Outlook Report

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State Basin Outlook Reports Page 1 of 15 . 7 7- « - ? ' . ?;.?;' .;.•. ` ? ?. .. ti . ^x ._. ? ?; ? '?'-?vi?: S .f•.? 1 ?` i.?+??'?ir?? r ri-?r 1 t ' ' ' 'R .. .?.. • .. . "" "'. .. .. . .. . ,... . NWCC Mome About UsProducts ? Publications ; News I, Partnerships I Contact Us Coloraclo State Basin Outlook Report for January, 2008 COLORADO Water Supply Outlook Report as of January 1, 2008 Once again, this year's early season snowpack is dominated by large storms which have considerably skewed the early season snowpack statistics. This year, southern Colorado has benefited from the larger storms and well above average snowpack totals are prevalent across those basins. While the northern mountains have yet to reach an average snowpack, the statewide totals remain slightly above average and above last year's readings. Early-season runoff forecasts reflect the snowpack variability with the best prospects for above average runoff within the southern basins of the state. Even with below average runoff forecast across the northern basins, there remains adequate time for improvement in the season. Reservoir storage is in good shape across most of the state, with near average storage reported across most of the state. For southern Colorado, this is the best start to a water year since 1997.. SNOWPACK The state's first significant snowfall of the season occurred in mid- October which brought good accumulations to all but the most southern portions of the state. However, the optimism for good snowpacks diminished during November when the entire state received well below average snowfall for the entire month. Not only were conditions extremely dry during the November, but they were also quite warm, which actually melted much of the lower elevation's October snow. Conditions across southern Colorado made a dramatic about-face on December 1 with a major storm that delivered several feet of snow to much of the high county. Within days of this storm, another storm, nearly as intense as the first, pounded the region again. As a result, snowpack totals across the San Juan, Animas, Dolores, San Miguel, and Rio Grande basins went from near record low snowpack totals to near record high, in a matter of only 12, days. These storms produced more snow water equivalent than was measured during the entire 2002 season in these basins. To the north, these storms were significantly less productive and these basins continue to track below average. The lowest percentages have been reported in the Yampa and White basins at 85% of average. On January 1, the statewide snowpack was 110% of average and was 113% of last year's snowpack on this same date. PRECIPITATION As the 2008 water year began in October, most of the state received near average to above average precipitation. Only the southern basins missed the average mark for the month, with basinwide totals ranging from 59% of average in the Rio Grande, to 143% of average in the Colorado basin. November was bone-dry statewide with only a few basins even reaching 50°s of average. Statewide, precipitation during November was only 45% of average. December's statistics are remarkable, with even the lowest monthly totals, in the Yampa and white basins, at 133$ of average. At the upper end are the Arkansas and combined San Juan, Animas, Dolores and San Miguel basins. These basins received more than 200% of average precipitation for December. The highest percentage was measured in the Rio Grande at 296;s of the http://www.wcc.nres.usda.gov/cgibin/bor2.p1?state=co&year-2008&month=l&format=text 4/14/2008