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<br />Jim Miller. Department of Agriculture <br />Mr. Miller said he just wanted to point out that this is a critical time for winter wheat. He <br />mentioned that we have had good moisture on the eastern plains and with the warm growing days, <br />the wheat is susceptible for winterkill if the temperature drops again. Mr. Miller also said the <br />northwestern part ranges are the least desirable and continue to be dry. <br /> <br />Marv Halstead. Wildlife <br />Ms. Halstead stated that there were no new issues at this time, but that a lot of wildlife employees <br />were continuing to monitor the conditions. <br /> <br />Snowpack, SWSI, Reservoir Storage, Streamflow Summary <br /> <br />Mike Gillespie. Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) <br />Mr. Gillespie reported that last January was a great month for snowfall especially in the southern <br />part of the state; however, February was not as spectacular. He stated the southern part of the state <br />still had good snow, but not the northern part. Mr. Gillespie mentioned there was an excess of <br />130% of snow across the southern part of the state. The northern part of the state was average to <br />slightly below average. Statewide the February 1 percentages were 114% of average and 130% of <br />February 1, 2004. Moving into March, Mr. Gillespie said the southern part of the state still had <br />good snowpack, but not the northern as its snowpack had begun to decrease especially across the <br />Colorado Basin, the Yampa White and the North Platte basins. As of March 1 the snowpack was <br />109% of average and 122% of last year. Mr. Gillespie commented our snowpack has begun to <br />decrease in all basins as of March 1 except the Arkansas which was the only basin to increase in <br />February. Mr. Gillespie explained that our current March snowpack is above average and the best <br />snowpack on March 1 since 1997. The snowpack figures for today are 103% of average, continues <br />to decline, and is still well above average but not anywhere near where we were in January. The <br />southern part of the state still has the most snowpack. Mr. Gillespie stated that 18% of our <br />snowpeak accumulation occurs in March and we are only at 4% for today. <br /> <br />The snowpeaks for the individual basins are as follows: The Gunnison Basin succeeded their <br />average peak in late February, at 124% of average, but is having a dry March; Colorado Basin was <br />average until the first of the month and now has flattened out and having a dry March; the South <br />Platte has been tracking below average all winter, but has had the best March; the North Platte is <br />below average and having a dry March; Yampa White is below average and having a very dry <br />month so far; the Arkansas Basin is tracking along pretty well and is above average, but also <br />having a dry March; the Rio Grande succeeded their peak in early February and has been in good <br />shape for quite some time--this basin is melting now, but has also had an increase in snow. The <br />southwest is still the driest part of the state in March. <br /> <br />Mr. Gillespie reported that the precipitation data shows that we are much better off than we were <br />on March 1, 1997, and close to what we had accumulated for the whole year of 2002. He also said <br />we are now average for the water year; however, it has not been a good March so far, but the <br />month is not over yet. <br /> <br />Mr. Gillespie stated that our reservoir storage is improving slowly across the state. He said the <br />South Platte is at 99% of average and improving; the Gunnison improved to above average also, <br />but there are problems with low percentages in the Arkansas. Mr. Gillespie stated the Gunnison <br />improved from below to above average; the Colorado has a slight improvement, but a long way to <br />