Colorado Basin Outlook Report March 1 2005

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YAMPA, WHITE, NORTH PLATTE AND LARAMIE RIVER BASINS as of March 1, 2005 *Based on selected stations Overall, March 1 snowpacks in the Yampa, White, North Platte and Laramie River basins are below average at 90% of average. A breakdown of the area indicates slightly above average snowpacks in the Elk River Basin and the Little Snake River Basin at 106% and 102% of average, respectively. However, the Laramie River Basin (84% of average), North Platte River Basin (88% of average), the Yampa River Basin (83% of average) and the White River Basin (86% of average) are all well below average for this time of year. For the North Platte River Basin and the Yampa and White River basins, this makes 7 out of the last 8 years that have had March 1 snowpacks that were below average (snowpacks were average to slightly above average in 2000). Monthly precipitation was below average (75 % of average) for the combined basins. Precipitation since the start of the water year (October 1) is 90% of average and is up slightly (2 %) of the totals recorded a year ago. Reservoir storage at the end of February, while slightly lower than last year, is just above average at 101% of average. Spring and summer streamflows are expected to be below average for most of the basin. In terms of percent of average, the lowest forecast is for the White River near Meeker at 69% of average; the highest is expected at the Little Snake River near Slater at 94% of average. Mountain Snowpack* (inches) --X Current -- A. Average --f— Maximum —0 Minimum 30 25 20 w c a� R 15 a w L d d-+ 10 5 0 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun *Based on selected stations Overall, March 1 snowpacks in the Yampa, White, North Platte and Laramie River basins are below average at 90% of average. A breakdown of the area indicates slightly above average snowpacks in the Elk River Basin and the Little Snake River Basin at 106% and 102% of average, respectively. However, the Laramie River Basin (84% of average), North Platte River Basin (88% of average), the Yampa River Basin (83% of average) and the White River Basin (86% of average) are all well below average for this time of year. For the North Platte River Basin and the Yampa and White River basins, this makes 7 out of the last 8 years that have had March 1 snowpacks that were below average (snowpacks were average to slightly above average in 2000). Monthly precipitation was below average (75 % of average) for the combined basins. Precipitation since the start of the water year (October 1) is 90% of average and is up slightly (2 %) of the totals recorded a year ago. Reservoir storage at the end of February, while slightly lower than last year, is just above average at 101% of average. Spring and summer streamflows are expected to be below average for most of the basin. In terms of percent of average, the lowest forecast is for the White River near Meeker at 69% of average; the highest is expected at the Little Snake River near Slater at 94% of average.