WATFSummarySept2003

• Title: Task Force Meeting Minutes
• Date: 9/24/2003
• Description: Minutes
• Basin: Statewide
• Drought Mitigation - Doc Type: WATF Meeting Summary

Gunnison Basin
The SWSI value (-3.1) indicates that August basin water supplies for the Gunnison Basin were
well below normal. Streamflows are below normal. Storage in Taylor Park, Crawford, and
Fruitland reservoirs totaled 75% of normal as of the end of August.

Colorado Basin
The SWSI value (-1.4) indicates that August basin water supplies were below normal. Flow at
the gaging station near Dotsero was 1,358 cfs, as compared to the long-term average of 1,848
cfs. Storage in Green Mountain, Ruedi, and Williams Fork reservoirs totaled 100% of average at
the end of August.

YamDalWhite Basin
The SWSI value (-3.0) indicates that water supplies were well below normal for the end of
August. The trend of warm temperatures continued through August, and precipitation was below
average. Stream flows by the end of August were well below normal, but improved from the
same period last year. Reservoir storage levels held up well.

San JuanlDolores Basin
The SWSI value (-2.2) indicates that August water basin supplies were below normal. Durango
received 2.89 inches of precipitation, which was 13% above normal. Temperatures moderated
and remained near or slightly above normal. Stream flows were well below normal until the end
of August when the base flows rose in most areas. Reservoirs were drawn down to well below
normal levels. Storage in McPhee, Vallecito, and Lemon reservoir totaled 56% of normal the
end of August.

Nolan Doesken. Colorado State University. Colorado Climate Center
Mr. Doesken reported that we had an average percentage of precipitation for the month of
August, and that this August was hot but not as hot as July 2003. Also this water year (October
2002 thru August 2003) was an average water year. We had less than 70% of average
precipitation, which means profound drought conditions. We had 90 to 110% precipitation in
Summit county, which was the wettest part of Colorado during this water year. Mr. Doesken
mentioned that 2001 and 2003 were hotter summers, and that our cool June helped 2003. The
12-month SPI is much better. 1999 was a very wet year compared to 2001-2003.

Bob Glancv. National Weather Service. Short Term Weather Forecast
Mr. Glancy reported that the next two weeks would more than likely be dry. A cool front will be
in on Friday, but eastern Colorado should be the only part of the state to be impacted by it.
Western Colorado will be warm and dry through the next two weeks. The forecast for the next
10 to 14 days shows a higher probability of normal to below normal precipitation with above
average temperatures. September into October should remain dry, but the temperatures would be
good for controlled burns by land management agencies