SWSIReportApril2006

• Title: Colorado Water Supply Conditions Report
• Date: 4/20/2006
• Description: Presentation
• Basin: Statewide
• Drought Mitigation - Doc Type: Presentation

YAMPAIWHITE BASIN

Basinwide CondItions Assessment
The SWSI value of +0.8 indicates that for March the
basin water supplies were above normal. Flow at the gaging
station Yampa River at Steamboat was 150 cfs, as
compared to the long-term average of 153 cfs. The overall
snowpack for the Oivision was 111 % of average.

Outlook
The snowpack in the basins declined slightly in
March as precipitation was only about 96% of average. Total
precipitation for the current water year is 114% of average.
down slightly from the previous month. The overall
snowpack for the Division was 111% of average, down from
113%. This continues to be the best snowpack that has
been seen in the combined basins since 1997, For the
individual basins. the snowpack at the end of the month
were: 109% of average for the North Platte River Basin.
117% of average for the Yampa River Basin, and 108% of
average for the White River Basin. The March 1 runoff
forecast from the NRCS for the April through July period are
114% of average for the North Platte River at Northgate,
123% of average for the Yampa River near Mayben. 112% of
average for the Little Snake River near Dixon, and 103% of
average for the White River near Meeker. These runoff
forecasts are the same as for the previous month.

Adminislrative/ManaQement Concems
Given the above-average snowpack, the potential
exists for localized flooding on the rivers and streams in the
Division this year. The extent of any flooding will depend
greatly on how the snowmelt progresses in May and early
June.

Public Use Impacts
With warm temperatures at the end of the month.
most rivers are ice free at the lower elevations and flowing at
or above seasonal averages. Spring melting can cause flows
to increase quickly. Caution should be exercised when
recreating on or near the rivers and streams

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