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<br />average. This was closely followed by the San Juan, Animas, Dolores, and San Miguel <br />basins, at 149% of average. Statewide, for the month of April, precipitation was 116% of <br />average. Totals for the first seven months of the 200 I water year are below average in all <br />basins except those in the south west portion of the state. Water year totals range from 86% <br />of average in the Colorado Basin, to 108% of average in the Rio Grande and the combined <br />San Juan, Animas, Dolores, and San Miguel basins. Water year totals for the state are now <br />94% of average. <br /> <br />Reservoir Storage <br /> <br />Reservoir storage changed only slightly from last month across the state. Currently, the <br />statewide reservoir storage is 107% of average and is 76% of last year's May I storage. This <br />above average storage is equivalent to nearly 218,000 acre feet. Storage in most basins is <br />above average, with below average storage reported only in the South Platte, and the San <br />Juan, Animas, Dolores, and San Miguel basins. As a rule, storage remains well below that of <br />last year at this time in all basins. The lowest percent of last year is in the Arkansas Basin at <br />only 61 % of last year's volumes. However, this basin also continues to report the highest <br />percent of average storage in the state at 159%. Although the statewide storage decreased by <br />only I % from last month, the actual storage increased by nearly 9000 acre feet during April. <br />Statewide, this year's storage is down by nearly 1.I million acre feet from last year at this <br />time. <br /> <br />Streamflow <br /> <br />With only a few exceptions, Colorado can expect to see below, to well below average runoff <br />across the state this spring and summer. Those basins across northern Colorado can expect to <br />see the lowest runoff as compared to the long-term average. Meanwhile, the best outlook for <br />summer runoff occurs across south-central Colorado. This portion of the state can expect near <br />to above average runoff this year. Although severe shortages are not anticipated anywhere in <br />the state, this year's runoff will be far from spectacular. In years like this, sununer <br />precipitation becomes a more critical water supply component. A lack of summer <br />precipitation, similar to last year, will greatly compound the water supply deficits across the <br />state. On the other hand, plentiful and steady summer precipitation will greatly reduce <br />irrigation demands and many water users may not notice the reduced runoff. <br />