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Colorado Water Availability Task Force Summary of January 17, 2006 Meeting The meeting was held at the Colorado Division of Wildlife Headquarters in Denver, Colorado. Those in recorded attendance included: Jack Byers, DWR Mike Gillespie, NRCS Lynee Cavaille, Colo. Natural Areas Program Nolan Doesken, CSlJ-Climate Center Mary Halstead, CDOW Jessica Lowrey, NOAA-ClJ Chris Pacheco, NRCS Will Stambaugh, City of Golden John Gordon, lJSGS Jim Miller, CDOA Toks Adeniran, DOLA Tom Browning, CWCB Klaus Wolter, NOAA Rick Marsicek, City of Aurora Kathie Hepp-Lucki, CWCB Veva McCaig, CWCB Robert Glancy, NOAA Scott Archer, lJSDI, BLM Robin Knox, CDOW Andrea Ray, NOAA Brad lJdall, NOAA-CD Rob Pearson, Energy Management & Conservation Les Major, City of Golden Frank McNulty, CDNR Marilyn Gaily, DOLA Barry Cress, DOLA Don West, DWR Kevin Reidy, City of Aurora J eft" Tranel, CSlJ The meeting was called to order at 2:25 pm on January 17,2006. Executive Summary A weak La Nina is developing and is expected to continue for 3-6 months, It has int1uenced dry winter weather for much of southern Colorado and the Front Range. Colorado's Front Range may experience a wet spring, but the southeastern portion of the state will remain dry. _Presently reservoir levels are about average statc"\vide. Ho\vever, several reservoirs in the southern part of the slate are low or belo\v average. Overall, Colorado's average stalewide snow pack is slightly above average. Snowpack levels in the southern basins are below average, while snowpack levels in the northern basi ns are well above average. Snowpack levels for November 2005 were average. Levels improved in December 2005. Precipitation for this water year is about average although the Front Range and southwest continue to experience below nonnal precipitation. Runoff from the South Platte Basin and tributaries of the ColO1'ado Basin is anticipated to be well above average. SWSI values are deceivingly high for the Arkansas Basin, Values should be viewed with caution, because the lower part of the basin is so much dryer in contrast to tbe upper part of tbe basi n. Tbe weather outlook projects dJY conditions on the eastern plains. Colorado has experienced many fast moving storms dropping snow in its nort.bem mountains, But the plains have remained dry, and therefore are under a higher tbreat from fire danger at the present time.