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<br />Water Supply Outlook: Thanks to March storms, as of April 1, the water supply outlook has
<br />improved. However, the March storms missed much of the Intermountain West, including Utall and
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<br />u.s. Drought Monitor ~;~r!lm~~f 2003
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<br />Nevada. With record low streamflows last year in many areas, and this year's snowpack resting on very
<br />dry soils, much of the snowmelt may be soaked up before reaching rivers and streams. Much of central
<br />Utall, Nevada, southeastern Idaho and eastern Oregon can expect less than 50% of average runoff.
<br />Elsewhere in the Rocky Mountains and the Southwest, forecasts have improved to 50%-89% of
<br />average.
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<br />Reservoir storage inlproved to near average in California, Idaho, Montana and Washington. However,
<br />storage is roughly half of average in Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utall and Wyoming, and only
<br />slightly better in Arizona and Oregon. In many areas, there was little or no carryover storage.
<br />Snowpacks are almost all below average westwide, and in some areas below 8,000 feet have already
<br />melted.
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<br />On April 15 the average snow water content measured at SNOTEL sites by the Natural Resources
<br />Conservation Service range from 9%-22% in central Arizona, 27% to 114% in northern New Mexico,
<br />79%-98% in the northern Sierras in California, 44%-78% in Nevada, 44%-75% in Utall, 61 %-98% in
<br />Washington, 0%-77% in Oregon, 45%-100% in !dallo, 77%-105% in Montana, 34%-94% in
<br />Wyoming, and 61 %-96% in Colorado.
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<br />As of May 12,2003, the Colorado Water Basin's snow water equivalent averages have greatly
<br />increased for South Platte River@I32%, Upper Colorado River @ 130%, Laramie and North Platte
<br />Rivers@ 121%, Yampa and White Rivers @ 115%, Arkansas River@ 101%, Upper Rio Grande @
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