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<br />SOUTH PLATTE BASIN
<br />
<br />Basinwide Conditions Assessment
<br />The SWSI value of -2,2 indicates that for October
<br />the basin water supplies were below normal. Reservoir
<br />storage, the major component in this basin in computing the
<br />SWSI value, was 56% of normal as of the end of October,
<br />Cumulative storage in the major plains reservoirs: Julesberg,
<br />North Sterling, and Prewitt, is at 5% of capacity, Cumulative
<br />storage in the major upper-basin reservoirs: Cheesman,
<br />Eleven Mile, Spinney, and Antero is at 50% of capacity,
<br />Flow at the gaging station South Platte River near Kersey
<br />was 325 cfs, as compared to the long-term average of 894
<br />cfs, Flow at the Colorado/Nebraska state line averaged 25
<br />cfs,
<br />A more extended period of irrigation for hay and
<br />beets, and initial irrigation of winter wheat planted by users
<br />as a safeguard in case the drought continues and there is
<br />not adequate water for irrigation next spring, kept a direct
<br />flow irrigation call on the whole South Platte River until the
<br />last week of October, The call changed during the last week
<br />as a regional storm reduced irrigation demand and provided
<br />additional water supplies,
<br />The storm the last week of October did allow for
<br />some storage to begin as water was taken at North Sterling
<br />Reservoir, Beginning November 1 reservoir storage began
<br />in earnest throughout the basin, The first plains reservoirs to
<br />receive water will be Jackson, Julesburg, and Riverside
<br />Reservoirs, As these reservoirs approach their winter
<br />storage levels, storage will be allowed in the remaining plains
<br />reservoirs, To assure maximum beneficial use, out-of-priority
<br />storage is being allowed in situations where there would not
<br />be injury, meaning situations where the junior user can
<br />release any out-of-priority water and get it to senior users
<br />should the seniors not fill their reservoir,
<br />
<br />Outlook
<br />Because of irrigation demand, the storage and
<br />recharge that normally occurs in October did not occur,
<br />Even in recent dry years like 1994 and 2000, conditions
<br />allowed for significant storage in plains reservoirs during
<br />October, With empty reservoirs at the end of the season
<br />and no significant storage in October, it will be very hard to
<br />fill all the plains reservoirs by spring even if conditions are
<br />normal. In addition, the loss of recharge in October will
<br />seriously impact the amount of augmentation water available
<br />to wells next spring,
<br />
<br />Public Use Imoacts
<br />Denver Water, which owns all water in Chatfield
<br />Reservoir, is designing 3 pump stations that will allow it to
<br />use Chatfield water directly in its treated water system, Until
<br />now it has only been able to use the water indirectly by
<br />exchange or via contract deliveries to other water users, The
<br />first temporary pump will be installed this fall, Next spring
<br />permanent pumps will be installed at the manifold works of
<br />Chatfield and upstream of the reservoir, The primary
<br />purpose will be to take water released from Strontia
<br />Reservoir for minimum flows below Strontia, but they could
<br />be used to lower the reservoir itself if drought conditions
<br />continue,
<br />
<br />Nov-02
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<br />....."
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<br />11
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