WSP05271

• File Number: 8040.970
• Description: Basin Outlook Reports
• State: CO
• Date: 1/1/2001
• Author: USDOA
• Title: Colorado Basin Outlook Report
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Publication

UPPER COLORADO RIVER BASIN
as of June 1,2001

Mountain Snowpack* (inches)

Precipitation* ('Yo of average)

l---*-current ~ Average I[
___Maximum -+-Minimum

1,.Monthly DYear-to-date I,

25

160

140

20
.5
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c 15
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ii
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.. 10
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E 100
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.... 80
0
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l: 60
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40
20

o

o

Oet Nov Dee Jan Feb Mar Apr May

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun

*Based on selected stations

Warm temperatures and below average precipitation have caused most of the measurable snow to
melt away in the Colorado Basin. The few sites that continue to hold snow have very little
remaining, and those will probably be completely melted before mid-June. Basinwide there is
only 18% of the measurable snow on June I. Although the snowpack is extremely low there is
nearly twice as much now as there was last year at this time. Most of the remaining snow is in the
Upper Colorado Watersheds where measurements are 22% of average. Precipitation in the higher
elevations of the basin was only 82% of average during May, and the water year total is now 85%
of average on June I. The combined storage from 8 major reservoirs in the basin is about 16%
above average on June I, but this is only 82% of the storage amount last year at this time. Due to
the rapid snowmelt and low precipitation during May, many of the streamflow forecasts have
been adjusted slightly for the remaining runoff season. All of the forecasts remain below average,
and range from only 66% of average at the Inflow to Willow Creek Reservoir, to 99% of average
at the Intlow to Dillon Reservoir.