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<br />Water Supplv Conditions Update <br />Don West, from the Division of Water Resources (DWR), presented a brief version of the State <br />Engineer's April 2006 Water Supply Conditions Update. The Surface Water Supply Index (SWSI) values <br />are showing near normal or higher values for Colorado except the San Juan/Dolores and Rio Grande <br />Basins in the southwest. The Colorado Basin has the highest SWSI value at + 1.6 while the Rio Grande <br />Basin has the lowest value at -1.5. <br /> <br />April statewide snowpack averaged from a high of 111 % of normal in the Yampa/White Basin to a low of <br />64% in the Rio Grande Basin. This is the best snowpack the Yampa-White Basin has had since 1997. The <br />snowpack for the Rio Grande Basin was tracking close to that of the 2001-02 winter before the March <br />2006 storm events added valuable snowpack. Fanners in the basin had to begin irrigating early due to the <br />dry soil conditions and low expected runoff. <br /> <br />The snowmelt runoff is predicted to be average for the South Platte Basin and above average for the <br />Colorado (especially Muddy Creek) and the Yampa White Basins. Above average snowpack levels in the <br />Yampa/White Basin may lead to localized flooding. Many streams and rivers in the Basin are flowing at <br />or above average. <br /> <br />The San Juan/Dolores Basin maintained its above average reservoir storage, even though streamflows <br />dropped to below nonnal for the month. This is due to carryover storage from the previous year. The <br />Bureau of Reclamation is predicting that Blue Mesa Reservoir will fill this year due in large part to <br />carryover storage from last year. <br /> <br />Reports from Impact Task Force <br /> <br />Municipal Water <br />Barry Cress, with the Dept. of Local Affairs (DOLA) and co-chair of the Municipal Impact Task Force, <br />reported that he is unaware of any water systems that are currently unable to meet their demands due to <br />dry conditions and low precipitation levels. <br /> <br />Wildfire <br />The Wildfire Impact Task Force did not have a representative in attendance at this meeting, therefore no <br />update was provided. However, there was much discussion among W A TF members of the current and <br />forecasted high potential for wildland fires this season in Colorado, especially in those areas where <br />precipitation and snowpack levels were below average. <br /> <br />Agriculture <br />Jeff Tranel, representing Colorado State University Cooperative Extension, reported that in southern <br />Colorado and along the Highway 50 corridor conditions are extremely dry. The southern part of the State <br />and the San Luis Valley farmers and ranchers have moved cattle from grazing pastures because of <br />blowing dust and are buying hay to prepare for reduced pasture acreage due to drought conditions. <br />Farmers are considering planting fewer crops due to the dry conditions and low water availability in <br />ditches. Colorado State University Cooperative Extension has activated their drought task force to <br />prepare for conducting educational programs for farmers and ranchers so they can make good <br />management decisions regarding crops and pastures during potential drought conditions. <br /> <br />Tourism <br />The Tourism Impact Task Force did not have a representative in attendance at this meeting, therefore no <br />update was provided. <br />