Summary of Select Water Storage and Flow Conditions (4)

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-2- Reser voir Storage A sunimary of the status of select reservoir storage and reservoir capacity is provided in Figurc 1. Generally, these major South Platte reservoirs are at or near allowable storage capacity. Figurc 4 shows reservoir storage for Colorado with the South Platte basin estimated at 84 percent of average. If there is any good news in this report it is that reservoir storage is near normal. Snow Pack State wide snow pack for Colorado as of Apri12002 is shown in Figure 5. Overall snow pack for Colorado is 52 percent of average! For the South Platte basin snow pack is either much below overa;;e or extremely below average. Figurc 6 helps put the snow pack situation in recent historical context. For the South Platte basin snow 3ack was 54 percent of average as of April 1, 2001. This is the third lowest snow pack measL re over the last 34 years. Figurc 7 shows the Snow Water Equivalent (SWE) in inches for the South Platte basin. As of April 17 the SWE for the South Platte basin was approximately 6 inches, which is 40 percent of average. The S zrface Water Supply Index (SWSI) is an indicator of mountain-based water supply conditions develclped by the Natural Resource Conservation Office and the Colorado State Engineers Office. The SNSI is based on snow pack, reservoir storage, and precipitation for November through April. Durin;; the winter, snow pack is given the most emphasis, except on the South Platte where reservoir storag,- is given the most weight. During the summer actual stream flow conditions begins to replac ° snow pack. The S'vVSI for Colorado as of March 1, 2002 is shown in Figure 8. The SWSI for the South Platte basin : s-2.0, indicating moderate drought conditions. III. SIJMMARY As of.kpri12002 water supplies in the South Platte basin appear to be shaping up to be much below averag e to extremely below average. With the exception of reservoir storage all water related indicie.s are very much below average. At this time we expect little to no runoff peak this year and very lc iw flows at Julesburg. 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 deman ds. Flood Protection . Water Project Planning and Financing • Stream and Lake Protection Water Supply Protection • Conservation Planning