SWSIReportJuly2004

• Title: Colorado Water Supply Conditions Report
• Date: 7/27/2004
• Description: Presentation
• Basin: Statewide
• Drought Mitigation - Doc Type: Presentation

SOUTH PLATTE BASIN

Basinwide Conditions Assessment
The SWSl value of -0.6 indicates that for June the
basin water supplies were slightly below normal. Reservoir
storage. the major component in this basin in computing the
SWSI value. was 97% of normal as of the end of June
Cumulative storage in the major plains reservoirs: Julesberg,
North Sterling, and Prewitt. is at 63% of capacity.
Cumulative storage in the major upper-basin reservoirs'
Cheesman. Eleven Mlle. Spinney, and Antero is at 75% of
capacity. Flow at the gaging station South Platte River near
Kersey was 444 cfs. as compared to the long-term average
of 2.355 cfs. Flow at the Colorado/Nebraska state line
averaged 39 cfs,
Several rainstorms tracked across all or parts of the
South Platte basin during June These storms reduced the
seniority of the call both by the increase in river flow and by
reducing irrigatIon demand along the river However.
because there was very limited snow runoff during the
month due to the very low snowpack, there was nol
adequate water to allow sigmficant storage Many large
irrigation reservoirs along the mainstem did not come close
to filling for the first time In over 20 years, Overall, storage
below Kersey for large reservoirs was only 144,000 acre-
feel. last year at this lime, there was over 232.000 acre-feet
in storage. Riverside Reservoir had only 34,000 acre-feet in
storage compared to 60,000 acre-feel last year, North
Sterling had 48,000 acre-feet in storage compared to 72,000
acre-feet last year, and Empire had 10.000 acre-feet
compared to 26.000 acre-feet last year.

Jul-04

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Outlook
Despite a fairly cool. wet June. the outlook for
supplies for irrigators is not very good Because of the
reservoir conditions, some irrigation companies have
severely limIted their deliveries this year. Unless there is
significant precipitation in July and August. irrigation users
will empty most of the plams reservoirs this year.
Most municipalities are in much better shape than
irrigators due to conservation efforts and leasing of addItional
supplies Their storage supplies are at or exceed levels that
were available last summer. Most of these users do not
foresee severe shortages. Emblematic of this. Denver Water
recentfy reduced their watering restriction requirements

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