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<br />how it affects streamflow in the West. They aim to do a better job of water management in the <br />17 western states using radar and satellites to estimate precipitation. He mentioned that radar is <br />much more accurate estimating precipitation in the summer or wanner weather, and satellites are <br />therefore used more in the winter. Mr. Hunter said that Denver, Grand Junction and Pueblo have <br />radar sites for this very purpose, and radar is much more accurate than using gauges. He also <br />stated that this is a three-year project funded by the Colorado Water Conservation Board. Mr. <br />Hunter's presentation can be seen on the Conservation and Drought Planning Section's Webpage <br />at the following address: <br />http://cwcb.state.co. us/owc/DroughcPlanning/Presentations/stevenhunterDroughc TF.pdf <br /> <br />Mike Gillespie. Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) <br />Mr. Gillespie reported that on March 1 of this year our snowpack was at 90% of average <br />statewide or 107% of last year. On April 1, Colorado was at 65% of average statewide or 69% <br />of last year. March also had 3-9 degrees above average temperatures across the state. He said <br />that on April 1 we had a record decrease in snow level at several sites, and this is the seventh <br />consecutive year with below average statewide snowpack. April 1 's snowpack was best in the <br />southern mountains. Now, on April 13th, we are at 76% of average statewide. Mr. Gillespie <br />said our month-to-date precipitation statewide will be above average. He mentioned that so far it <br />has been an excellent month for statewide precipitation, but still a long way to go to get to <br />average or to recoup from the drought. <br /> <br />Mr. Gillespie explained that our reservoir storage is at 81 % of average, which is well below <br />statewide, but this is the first time we have above average storage in the Gunnison basin at this <br />time of year. <br /> <br />Mr. Gillespie mentioned that the SWSI showed a severe decrease in the Arkansas basin. The <br />Arkansas dropped the most, and we had deceases in the Rio Grande as well. He said the major <br />decreases were because it was wann and caused the loss of snowpack quickly. <br /> <br />Mr. Gillespie said our streamflow showed a bleak picture for the state--that it was not good for <br />seasonal water supply. He also said the streamsflows were in line with those of 2002. <br /> <br />Mr. Gillespie explained that all and all the snowpack in the Arkansas basin peaked and improved <br />the best; the Gunnison, Rio Grande and San Juan's were good; the South Platte basin improved <br />much recently; and, the others were about the same as 2002. <br /> <br />Keith Vander Horst, Division of Water Resources. Water Supplv Conditions Update <br />Mr. Vander Horst reported a summarization of the streamflows for this meeting. He began by <br />saying the Rio Grand was running below 2002 levels in February but took a jump up recently; <br />however, will probably drop to below average again after the snowmelt. Mr. Vander Horst said <br />that May and June have the highest runoffs, and usually mid April has the average runoffs. He <br />mentioned that presently the streamflow on the Rio Grande was well above normal, as well as <br />the flows in the Gunnison and San Juan rivers, while the streamflows in the remaining rivers <br />were below average. <br /> <br />---The following is a brief water supply conditions update. (A complete supply update was <br />distributed at the meeting and appears on the CWCB webpage as welL) -------- <br />