WATFSummaryJan2006

• Title: Task Force Meeting Minutes
• Date: 1/17/2006
• Description: Minutes
• Basin: South Platte
• Drought Mitigation - Doc Type: WATF Meeting Summary

The following is a summary of the Colorado Water Supply Conditions Update provided by the Ot11ce of
the State Engineer.

South Platte Basin
For December 2005 the basin water supplies were above normal. Snowpack is 132% of normaL
Reservoir storage was 108% of normal at of the end of December. Storage levels in the major plains
reservoirs: Julesburg, North Sterling, and Prewitt are at 66% of capacity. Cumulative storage in the
major upper-basin reservoirs of Cheesman, Eleven Mile, Spinney, and Antero is at 88% of capacity.

Arkansas Basin
Basin water supplies were well above normal for December 2005. January 1 snowpack is 98% of normal.
Stream Hows at the gaging station near Portland were 434 cfs, as compared to the long-term average of
396 cfs. Storage in Turquoi se, Twin Lakes, Pueblo, and John Malti n reservoirs totaled 68% of nonnal at
the end of December

Rio Grande Basin
Basin water supplies were below normal for December 2005. The snowpack is 34% of normal. At the
end of December 2005 storage in Platoro, Rio Grande, and Santa j',{aria reservoirs totaled 91 % of normal.
Precipitation in Alamosa was 0.04 inches during December, 0.29 inches below normal. The average
annual temperature in Alamosa was INell above nonnal 1'01' the eighth consecutive December.

Gunnison Basin
For December 2005 basin water supplies were above normal. Snowpack is 98<;'f, of normal. StreamHows
at the gaging station at lJncompahgre Rive1' near Ridgeway was 61 cfs, as compared to the long-tenn
average of 53 cfs. Storage in Taylor Park, Crawford, and Fruitland reservoirs totaled 111 % of normal as
of the end of December.

Colorado Basin
For December 2005 basin water supplies were well above normal. Snowpack is 133% of nonnal. Flow
at the gaging station near Dotsero was 1,140 efs, as compared to the long..term average of 1,046 cfs.
Storage in Green Mountain, Ruedi, and \Villiams Fork reservoirs totaled 1130;, of average at the end of
December.

Yamra/Wbite Basi n
Water supplies were above nonnal f()r tbe end of December 2005. Snowpack is 134% of normaL Stream
flows at the gaging station at '{ampa River at Steamboat was 150 cis, as compared to the average of 105
d's. Precipitation was mucb above average for December.

San Juan/Dolores Basin
December 2005 basin water supplies were below normal. Snowpack is 47% of nonnal. Flow at the
gaging station at Animas River near Durango was 240 cfs, as compared to tbe long-term average of 230
cfs. Storage in 1\kPbee, Vallecito, and Lemon reservoir totaled l169;, of normal at the end of December.

Report from NOAA-The National '0/ eather Service's Local Weather Forecast
Roben Glancy, witb tbe National Weather Service (NWS), reponed tbat persistent fast moving storms
have been dropping snow in Colorado's northern mountains. l\{ost of tbe rest of tbe state has not
benefited from tbese storms, which is wby the eastem plains have seen some tire activity. The weatber
palterns could be changing slightly resulting in snow fix tbe plains.