WATFSummaryJan2006 - Laserfiche WebLink

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.,\'-iI. 1)oesken rep01ted that about 10 to t5 iX" of the State is expe:riencing ~ignificanJ droughJ condit]ons. IIo\\'ever: if the next 12 :rnontbs axe \~'et, COlorado Vi/in have uvercotne tbe deficits left over frotn the 2002 (trougnL C\~~lorado is tliring \\'e11 clirnatologicaUy \vL:en cOlnpanxl t(~ otberV~iestern stares, Report from Natural Resources Conservation Service Mike Gillespie, from Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), reported that Colorado is 5% above last year's snowpack for January 1 and 104% of average snowpack statewide. Some basins are at 150% of average and some basins are 10-30 % of average compared to last year. The southern basins are dry while the northern basins are seeing above average snowpacks. The Colorado, Y ampa- White, South Platte, and North Platte basins are running around 130% of average. The San Juan and Rio Grande basins are at about 30-40% of average. The statewide snowpack for January 1 is less than 50% of average in the southern part of the state. The snowpack average for all the basins shows Colorado's basin-wide percent of average ranging from 34% of average in the Rio Grande basin to 135% of average in the Yampa- White. The upper part of the Arkansas basin is experiencing higher snowpacks. November 2005 was an average month for snowpack with improvements in December 2005. Currently Colorado is 102% of average statewide. The Gunnison Basin is on an average track. The Colorado Basin is well above average. The South Platte Basin is well above average at 121 %. The North Platte Basin is doing exceptionally well at 134% of average. The Y ampa- White Basin is doing the same as 135% of average, The Arkansas Basin is at 84% of average. Snowpack levels for the Rio Grande Basin and the San Juan Basin are tracking significantly below average. Mr. Gillespie commented that if Colorado experiences a repeat of 2002 weather patterns for the rest of the year, it would experience conditions worse than 2002. October 2005 and December 2005 precipitation has contributed to the slightly above average statewide precipitation conditions to date. According to Mr. Gillespie, reservoir storage statewide is 94% of average and 113% of 2005. The Arkansas Basin is at 65%, and the Rio Grande Basin is at 69% of average. The South Platte Basin is at 82% of average and trends continue to improve. There are low SWSI numbers in the southwest part of the state, with high SWSI numbers in the north part. The Arkansas Basin SWSI number is deceiving, because it is much dryer in the lower part of the basin. Runoff i s anticipated for 50-70% of average in the southern basins; 70-90 % in the larger basins; and, 130-150% in the South Platte Basin and tributaries of the Colorado Basin and part of the North Platte Basin. Water Supply Conditions Update Jack Byers, Deputy State Engineer, stated that currently John Martin Reservoir is 60,000 acre feet below average storage. Platoro Reservoir is 10,000 to 15,000 acre feet below average, and Pueblo Reservoir is also below average for this time of year. The Rio Grande Basin is storing more water than what it normally stores this time of year. There is a general concern over the persistently dry conditions in southeastern Colorado. The region is being closely monitored for worsening conditions. Mr. Byers also commented that the currently developing La Nina is a concern. Don \Vest, with the Division of Water Resources, reported the reservoirs are showing a cumulative storage of 101% of average statewide, and that streamflows are at low winter base How levels. Some streams are above average and some are below average with no definite trend in the streamflow.