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<br />Mr. Gillespie reported that April was a good month with the rains that helped improve conditions <br />a little bit. He said that our SNOTEL precipitation values were up to 131 % of average statewide; <br />however, May is very dry up through the 14th of the month leaving Colorado at only 34% of <br />average statewide. <br /> <br />Mr. Gillespie mentioned our reservoir storage has not changed much. This is the second month <br />we have had above average storage in the Gunnison Basin. Statewide, the reservoir storage is at <br />84% of average, and we are still below average compared to last year. <br /> <br />Mr. Gillespie explained the SWSI showed a good increase in April, specifically in the Arkansas <br />basin because of all the rains. The Rio Grande and the South Platte also improved. The lowest <br />values were in the Yampa and Colorado basins. <br /> <br />Mr. Gillespie described low streamflow conditions across the western slope, and flows of less <br />than 50% of average in the South Platte basin; however, there was a good improvement in the <br />Rio Grande basin because of April stonns. <br /> <br />Mr. Gillespie also said the Arkansas basin would more than likely have the most rapid melt out. <br /> <br />Roger Pielke, Sr., State Climatologist, Colorado State University <br />Mr. Pielke reported that April was one of the wettest Aprils in the last 100 years, and tenth <br />wettest overall in the state. He said precipitation for Ft. Collins is above their long-time average <br />for April, and there were average temperatures across the state. The 48-month SPI shows the <br />northeast as the driest while the 12-month SPI shows the north, Front Range, and eastern part of <br />the state to remain dry. Mr. Pielke said that wet conditions for the next four years will not <br />remove the drought of the driest areas, and the long-tenn drought impacts will remain in parts of <br />Colorado. <br /> <br />Mr. Pielke brought up an idea for an improved drought monitor for the state of Colorado. He <br />said he would like to propose a new approach to assessing drought in the state. Mr. Pielke stated <br />he envisioned Impact Task Force members could collectively work on it, and pass the <br />infonnation on to the drought monitor. It would mainly deal with the drought intensities. Mr. <br />Pielke said we would use geographic definitions to relate impacts to our local conditions, and he <br />would propose an evaluation of drought impacts for an impact community, such as wildlife. <br /> <br />Keith Vander Horst, Division of Water Resources, Water Supply Conditions Update <br />Mr. Vander Horst stated that Mike and Roger had already discussed many of the wet conditions <br />of April, and Mike discussed SWSI so he would just continue with his drought update. He said <br />the SWSI values did go up, because the precipitation and snowmelt had begun in March. Mr. <br />Vander Horst explained that the cooler weather in April did halt the melt off in April which <br />benefited the whole state. He explained that agriculture users would benefit more with the runoff <br />in May and June, and the reservoirs would benefit most by an early runoff. Mr. Vander Horst <br />reported that the South Platte River flows were below last year but above 2002. The Arkansas <br />was above 2002 and 2003 flows. The water year accumulative flows for the Rio Grande were <br />below nonnal but above 2002 and 2003. Gunnison flows for April were above last year and <br />2002. Accumulative flows for the Colorado River were below average and below 2002 and <br />2003. The Yampa was slightly below average for the year; the snowpack dropped in April more <br />than the rest of the state, and the runoff forecast is not good. San Juan's accumulative flows <br />were pretty good but nonnal, and the snowpack runoff will be below nonnal. <br />mThe following is a brief water supply conditions update. (A complete supply update was <br />distributed at the meeting and appears on the CWCB webpage as well.) mum <br />