Summary of Select Water Storage Information and Flow Conditions

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-2- Reservoir Storage A summary of the status of select reservoir storage and reservoir capacity is provided in Figure 1. The effects of the drought, reduced stream flow and heavy reservoir demand, left South Platte reservoirs at low levels though out most of the winter. Recent stream flow increases allowed many reservoirs to significantly improve storage in March. Figure 3 shows reservoir storage for Colorado with the South Platte basin estimated at 58 percent of average and Figure 4 shows a little more detail for select reservoirs below Kersey (Empire, Riverside, Jackson, Prewitt, North Sterling, Julesburg). Snow Pack State-wide snow pack for Colorado as of Apri12003 is shown in Figure 6. Overall snow pack for Colorado is 94 percent of average with the northern portion of the South Platte basin at 110-129 percent of average and the southern portion at 90-109 percent of average! Figure 7 shows the dramatic improvement in snow pack as compared to last year. The Surface Water Supply Index (SWSI) is an indicator of mountain-based water supply conditions developed by the Natural Resource Conservation Office and the Colorado State Engineers Office. The SWSI is based on snow pack, reservoir storage, and precipitation for November through April. During the winter, snow pack is given the most emphasis, except on the South Platte where reservoir storage is given the most weight. During the summer actual stream flow conditions begins to replace snow pack. The SWSI for Colorado as of March 1, 2003 is shown in Figure 8. The SWSI for the South Platte basin is -2.6, and does not reflect the significant improvement in snow pack that occurred in March, but the SWSI will still be heavily influenced by lower than normal reservoir levels. Figure 9 is a short summary from NRCS emphasizing the positive effects of the March 18-20 blizzard. III. SUMMARY The blizzard of 2003 was the second most intense in Colorado history with heavy snow though out most of Colorado and the South Platte basin was hit especially hard! The improved snow pack will ease the impacts of one of the worst droughts in recent history. However, with the low reservoir levels stream flows will likely remain below average as reservoirs attempt to fill. Finally, some long-term forecasts indicate that we may see weak to normal monsoonal conditions arriving in July. If this is the case it may slightly improve South Platte flows and ease reservoir demands. Flood Protection • Water Project Plaiuung and Finance • Stream and Lake Protection Water Supply Protection • Conservation Plaruting