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<br /> <br />YampalWhite Rivers 92% <br />Upper Colorado River 99% <br />Gunnison River 89% <br />Southwestem Colorado 73% <br />RIO GRANDE BASIN <br />Rio Grande 77% <br /> <br />e <br /> <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />-2- <br /> <br />WATERSHED RESERVOIR STORAGE % ofthe long term % of last years <br />Aprlll, 2003 average average <br />MISSISSIPPIIMISSOURI RIVER BASIN <br />North PlattelLaramie Rivers 99% <br />South Plalte River 58% 68% <br />Arkansas River 46% 60% <br />COLORADO RIVER BASIN <br />YampalWhite Rivers 92% 91% <br />Upper Colorado River 36% 43% <br />Gunnison River 81% 71% <br />Southwestern Colomdo 61% 75% <br />RIO GRANDE BASIN <br />Rio Grande 61% 80% <br /> <br />Note: The seasonal average maximum snowpack historically occurs around Aprill5, but April I ,( is the <br />beginning of the water year. Mike Gillespie also noted that there is a volume deficit ofl.5 million acre-feet. <br /> <br />National Weather Service, Treste Huse (Short-term forecast) <br />The National Weather Service (Boulder Office) provided a short-term weather forecast for the next week. Treste _ <br />Huse stated that a ridge of high pressure aloft and at the surface and is moving into the area. This will bring. <br />dry conditions through Saturday, There is a large low-pressure trough along the west coast The 8-14 day <br />forecast shows below normal temps and precipitation. The National Weather Service web page has graphical <br />depictions of expected weather on their web page at htto:/fwww.nws.noaa.gov/.TheNWS.sbig concern this <br />summer is flooding in the Hayman burn area. They have been working with Bob Jarrett of the USGS to <br />develop flooding thresholds. The NWS is working in the other major fire areas as well. They give weather <br />forecasts and look at soil permeability. The NWS Denver Region office is in Boulder, Colorado at 325 <br />Broadway, Boulder, Colorado 80303. <br /> <br />HDR Engineering, John Henz (Intermediate and long-term forecast) <br />John Henz provided additional weather related information and predictions for Colorado. Henz wanted to <br />clarify the definitions of drought Meteorololrical drought: a persistent pattern that brings a long stretch of <br />below normal precipitation. This one is easing with the help ofEI Nino precipitation. Hydrological drought: <br />a "lingering hangover" of empty reservoirs, low storage, low streamflows and dry soils. This one is lingering <br />into 2003 and, probably, 2004. Don't get them confused just because today we will be talking about flooding <br />threats!!! Fact: Most droughts in eastern Colorado "end" with Front Range flooding event(s). Fact: Most <br />fife-bum areas in the state will easily flash flood, Fact: El Nino summers feature dramatic increases in May <br />and June thunderstorms, severe weather and flash flooding. We have the recipe for significant flooding <br />problems. The spring precipitation forecasts, according to Henz were: April to June looks quite wet statewide <br />with South Platte and Colorado River basins 20-30% above normal and others very near normal. Spring rains <br />may bring Front Range flooding threat Colorado Springs to Ft Collins. Summer monsoon looks to be <br />average but fife-bum areas will bring serious flash flooding and water quality issues by August <br /> <br />Colorado Climate Center, Nolan Doesken (Statewide Climate Perspective) _ <br />Nolan Doesken from the Colorado Climate Center could not attend the meeting but called the CWCB and wanted. <br />to issue a general alert for sprint time flooding in mountain communities and along the Front Range areas. He <br /> <br />Flood Protection? Water Project Planning and Finance? Stream and Lake Protection <br />Water Supply Protection? Conservation Planning <br /> <br />2 <br /> <br />