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<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />~o <br /> <br />State Engineer's Report <br />3/25/03 <br /> <br />Precipitation and Snowpack Conditions <br /> <br />The storm of 2003 significantly improved the water supply conditions in the South Platte <br />and Arkansas River basins as can be seen on the handout describing the statewide <br />snowpack conditions. This storm also provided good rains on the plains with northeast <br />Colorado seeing the most rainfall. Sterling received about 3.5 inches of rain. The water <br />content of the snow in the Denver metro area varied but was in excess of 4 inches with <br />the foothills seeing twice this amount. Depending on the temperature during the next few <br />weeks, this water could produce considerable runoff to store in downstream reservoirs. <br /> <br />Reservoir Storage <br /> <br />The statewide reservoir storage remains below average as can be observed on the map <br />with selected reservoir contents shoWn. The storm of 2003 may allow the majority of <br />South Platte River irrigation reservoirs to fill which will be good news and minimize the <br />potential for lawsuits against well augmentation entities. North Sterling Reservoir is <br />taking its entire senior priority of 300 cfs and Prewitt Reservoir is calling its senior <br />decree as is Riverside Reservoir. Jackson and Empire Reservoirs have filled their senior <br />decrees. We have allowed FRICO to start diverting water to Barr Lake under upstream <br />out-of-priority statutes. Milton Reservoir is filling under its senior decree. Throughout <br />the state we are allowing storage at the maximum rate possible and are discouraging any <br />direct flow water rights from calling out storage for as long as possible. <br /> <br />Legislation <br /> <br />There remains considerable legislation addressing water issues especially as related to <br />dealing with drought. Legislation has been introduced related to allowing temporary <br />change of water rights, statewide water banking, loans of water for instream flows and for <br />agriculture, and interruptible water supply agreements. The CWCB report contains the <br />various bills associated with these various bills. SB03-181 has been signed by the <br />Governor and increases well permit application fees for a new well permit to $440 to <br />cash fund the well permitting program. This should allow the Legislature to use about <br />$3.4 million of General Funds for other purposes in FY 04. This should hopefully <br />prevent DWR from having to take additional budget reductions that would greatly impact <br />water administration and well permitting. The budget situation is still too unclear to <br />know what our situation will be for FY 04. SB03-45 is moving forward and would <br />update the statutes dealing with well construction and pump installation contractors as <br />well as establish a statewide well inspection program. HB03-1005 is moving forward <br />and extends the time for promulgating rules in the San Luis Valley for new <br />appropriations from the confined aquifer to July 1, 2004. <br />