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<br />YAMPAlWHITE BASIN <br /> <br />Basinwide Conditions Assessment <br />The SWSI value of -2.2 indicates that for April the <br />basin water supplies were below normal. The Natural <br />Resources Conservation Service reports that May 1 <br />snowpack is 79% of normal in the Yampa/White Basin. Flow <br />at the gaging station Yampa River at Steamboat was 636 <br />cfs, as compared to the long-term average of 598 cfs. <br />Temperatures in April continued to be above <br />average for most of the basin. Precipitation was below <br />normal for the month in many areas. This combination <br />caused a significant reduction in the snowpack for the basins <br />in the Division. <br />The May 1" snowpack for the Yampa and White <br />Rivers was about 79% of average, while the Little Snake <br />drainage was only 68% of average. The North Platte <br />drainage had the best snowpack in the Division, 94% of <br />average. The warm temperatures caused most rivers to see <br />elevated flows for this time of year. The only snowpack that <br />still exists is in the mountains at high elevations. <br /> <br />Outlook <br />Streams and rivers in the Division may experience <br />early runoffs this spring. Flows are currently at levels <br />normally seen two to three weeks later in the season. The <br />early runoff may cause shortages of water later in the spring <br />as irrigators start diverting. <br /> <br />Administrative/Manaaement Concerns <br />Early runoff has reduced the snowpack significantly. <br />Many smaller tributaries could see water shortages. It is <br />anticipated that administration will begin earlier then normal <br />in water-short drainages. Use of irrigation reservoirs to <br />supplement natural streamflow may be greater this year. <br /> <br />Public Use Imoacts <br />Streams and rivers have been flowing at higher than <br />normal levels. Some localized flooding may occur as the <br />runoff continues. Caution is advised for all activities on the <br />waterways. Most reservoirs are ice-free and nearing full <br />capacity . <br /> <br />8 <br /> <br />May-OO <br /> <br />YAAPAlW-tTE~Nsv..s HSi'CRY' <br /> <br /> <br />w <br />. , <br /> <br />-'T-' <br /> <br />>., <br />~ <br />o <br />., <br /> <br /> <br />i <br />I <br />, <br />J <br /> <br />w <br />" <br />:I.' <br />> <br />x <br />~ , <br />. <br /> <br />-: <br /> <br />., <br /> <br />4 <br />- <br /> <br />"'" <br /> <br />J3>.Q3 - ~ ~.-..w <br />M><!H1Y6'R <br /> <br />- <br /> <br />-- '""" <br /> <br />Y/>M3A ~ AT S1E.AM3Q<\T, R.ON BY WATER YEAR <br /> <br />7OO.00l <br /> <br /> i <br /> /' --- i <br /> / i <br /> 1/ <br />/ / , <br />// , <br /> <br />0lD.00l <br /> <br />.. <br />. <br />~ 9JO,COO <br />~ <br />~ 4OO,lXXl <br />g <br />~ <br />~ XXl,OOO <br />" <br />~ <br />~ <br />~ 200,000 <br />" <br />u <br />1oo,COO <br /> <br />o <br />O:t fI.bv C8:; .m <br /> <br />FebM;.t:hApilMayJu1eJUyPtJgSepl <br /> <br />-a-'M;T(1934) <br /> <br />__CRY (1977) <br /> <br />~AVG <br /> <br />*->JOO <br /> <br />. <br />