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<br />.., 'J ..... . ~ - <br /> <br />as of March 1, 1984 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />.... __ 1)0" <br /> <br />D'mramf?\?fl <br /> <br /> <br />MAR 1 2 1984 la <br /> <br />COLORAD VI <br />COtVSi:Plf4-tOo W4Te,... <br />~., . I {\l 804fT <br />COLORADO RIVER above CISCO, UTAH: The water supply outlook for the Colorado liD <br />basin remains above normal. Streamflow forecasts dropped 10 to 20% from those <br />issued last month as a result of cold, dry weather durir~ February. Most <br />forecasts range from 135 percent in the upper watersheds to 175% on the lower <br />Gunnison River. Forecasts have continued to dimirush after two dry months with <br />the threat of spring snowmelt flooding easing, but the potential is still high <br />enough to warrant concern particularly in low lying areas. Of particular concern <br />is the high volume forecast for drainages in the Gu.~~ison basin and Plateau Creek, <br />east of Grand Junction. The character of the spring weather' will ultimately <br />determine the extent of the flood pC'oblems. <br /> <br />Precipi ta tion dJing Febr.uar,. was J.ess than 50$ througho.ut_ ",'"c.h :>of- t.ne lower <br />drainage areas, however stations along the Continental Divide and rimming the <br />Gunnison basin received near normal amounts. The highest ~onthly amour~ was <br />reported at Ouray with 3.13 inches, 198% of normal, while the lowest was at <br />Rifle, 0.08 inches - 10% of average. <br /> <br />WATER SUPPLY OUTLOOK FOR COLORADO <br /> <br />Seasonal precipitation continues to be marked by the wet November and December <br />with October thru February accumulations between 135 to 160% of normal. <br /> <br />Snowfall was below normal during February. During the last two months snow <br />surveys indicate a significant reduction in the average basin snow water <br />content in relation to normal. SOlile basin averages include: Upper Colorado <br />and Roaring Fork drainage - 139%, Dolores - 135%, and Gunnison basin - 144%. <br /> <br />Runoff during February remained above normal with the flow on the Colorado River <br />at Cisco, Utah of 233,000 acre-feet - 141% of average, the second highest flow <br />on record (exceeded by 261,000 acre-feet in 1962). <br /> <br />Since October 1, the flow at Cisco, Utah has been 1.42 million acre-feet, 146% <br />of average, the second highest on record dating back to 1923 (exceeded in 1942 <br />by a flow of 1.44 million acre-feet). <br /> <br />ReseC'voiC' storage on February 29, 1984 in the four major reservoirs above Cisco, <br />Utah (Grano;r, Dillon. Green Mountain and Blue Mess) i~ 1.03 milli.on a~re-feet, <br />120% of average, 64% of ~apacity and about 150,000 acre-feet lower than a month <br />ago. Storage in Lake Powell is 21.5 million acre-feet, 500,000 acre-feet lower <br />than last month and 86% of capacity. The April-July inflow forecast to Lake <br />Powell is 11.3 million acre-feet, 151% of the 20-year (1961-1980) average. <br /> <br />GREEN RIVER BASIN: Weather over the Green River basin continued dry after <br />excessive precipitation amounts this fall and early winter. Precipitation in <br />January averaged less than 50 percent and in February was generelly 50 to 80 <br />percent of average. Streamflow forecasts as of March 1 are for near normal <br /> <br />NOAA - NATIONAL 'NEATHER SERVICE <br />Colorado Basin River Forecast Center, Salt Lake City, Utah <br />Gerald Williams, Hydrologisc-in-Charge <br />