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Keith Vander Horst. Division of Water Resources. Water SUDDlv Conditions UDdate Mr. Vander Horst stated that the 2004 Water Year is mostly tracking below average. He stated the streamflow for the South Platte for reservoir storage is typical; Arkansas is low; the Rio Grande is typical for December; the Gunnison Basin is the only stream flow above average and above the dry year of 1977 and Water Year above 2002's amount. Mr. Vander Horst stated that the Gunnison River near Grand Junction at the Redlands canal is low and that determines to be critical for well permits. It effects how well permits are issued in the basin above that point and now there will be more of a restriction on the type of permits allowed. He also said the Colorado river is tracking below average; the Yampa river near Steamboat is above the year of 1977, but below 2002; the Animas river near Durango is below average for December flows, but above 2002. He also stated that the snowpack and reservoir storage is better now than last year. The low streamflows reflect previous conditions--dry conditions the last few years. Mr. Vander Horst said the winter flows may go up, but the spring flows reflect the historic predictions. He said we will have to wait and see what snowpack we have and what runs off in the spring. ---The following is a brief water supply conditions update. (A complete supply update was distributed at the meeting and appears on the cwcb webpage as well.) -------- South Platte Basin The SWSl value (-0.8) indicates that for December the basin water supplies were slightly below normal. Reservoir storage was 101% of normal at of the end of December. Storage levels in the major plains reservoirs: Julesburg, North Sterling, and Prewitt are at 43% of capacity. Cumulative storage in the major upper-basin reservoirs of Cheesman, Eleven Mile, Spinney, and Antero is at 65% of capacity. Arkansas Basin SWSl value (-1.8) indicates that basin water supplies were below normal for December. Stream flows at the gaging station near Portland was 370 cfs, as compared to the long-term average of 402 cfs. Storage in Turquoise, Twin Lakes, Pueblo, and John Martin reservoirs totaled 42% of normal at the end of December. Rio Grande Basin SWSl value (0.4) indicates that basin water supplies were near normal in December. January 1, 2004 snowpack is 85% of normal. Storage in Platoro, Rio Grande, and Santa Maria reservoirs totaled 48% of normal at the end of December. 2003's average temperature was the highest it's been in over 20 years. Gunnison Basin The SWSl value (-0.2) indicates that December basin water supplies for the Gunnison Basin were near normal. Snowpack for January 1 is 105% of normal. Storage in Taylor Park, Crawford, and Fruitland reservoirs totaled 103% of normal at of the end of December. Colorado Basin The SWSl value (-1.1) indicates that for December basin water supplies were slightly below normal. Flow at the gaging station near Dotsero was 805 cfs, as compared to the long-term average of 1,068 cfs. Storage in Green Mountain, Ruedi, and Williams Fork reservoirs totaled 89% of average at the end of December.