SWSIReportJan2004

• Title: Colorado Water Supply Conditions Report
• Date: 1/21/2004
• Description: Presentation
• Basin: Statewide
• Drought Mitigation - Doc Type: Presentation

SOUTH PLATTE BASIN

Basinwide Conditions Assessment
The SWSI value of -0.8 indicates that for December
the basin waler supplies were slightly below normal.
ReservOir storage, the major component In this basin in
computmg the SWSI value. was 101% of normal as of the
end of December. Cumulative storage in the major plains
reservOirs: Jutesberg, North Sterling, and Prewrtt. is at 43%
of capaclty Cumulative storage in the major upper-basin
reservOIrs Cheesman, Eleven Mile, Sprnney, and Antero is
at 65% of capacity The Natural Resources Conservallon
Service reports that January 1 snowpack is 67% of normal
Flow at the gagmg statIon South Platte River near Kersey
was 557 cIs, as compared to the long-term average of 856
cfs Flow at the Colorado/Nebraska state line averaged 419
cr,
ReservOlr storage continued in December for
reservoirs along both the mainstem and tnbutaries Calls for
storage continued through out the basin except below the
Prewitt Inlet Julesburg Reservoir did reach its winter fill
level Calls for storage also eXIsted on tributaries In
December, the normal situation for this time of year
While storage conditions along the Platte are
signlflcanUy better than last year, they remain below average
for much of the basin. espeCIally along the South Platte
downstream of Denver In order to completely fill these
reservoirs, It Will be important that we have at least near
average runoff conditions this spnng

Outlook
Conditions were warm in December and there
continue to he no restricllons on storage due to weather
condItions likewise. early snowpack continues below
average In the South Platte basin However, it is sllU very
early in the year and thus present condl!lons are not a gOOd
Indicator of conditions through the winter period

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Jan.04

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