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<br />APRIL 2006 DROUGHT UPDATE <br />Water Availability Task Force Co-Chairs <br /> Veva McCaig, CWCB - 303-866-3339 Jack Byers, DWR - 303-866-3581 <br />.co.us <br /> Email - genoveva.mccaig@state Email - jack.byers@state.co.us <br /> <br />For a complete summary of the April 20, 2006 Meeting of the Water Availability Force, please visit the <br /> CWCB website at www.cwcb.state.co.us. <br />Executive Summary <br />Generally, the northern 2/3 of Colorado is experiencing snowpack and snow water equivalent (SWE) values above <br />average, and the lower 1/3 of the state continues to be below average, with some improvement in the southwest. <br />Colorado's State Climatologist indicated that April's distribution of temperatures and precipitation was mixed with no <br />clear trend. <br />The Natural Resource Conservation Service data indicated that while the statewide snowpack declined slightly from <br />last month, snowpack in the southwest improved. On April 1 the snowpack was 94% of average statewide. This is an <br />improvement over March 2006 due to the March snowstorms in the southwest areas of the state that actually doubled <br />their snowpack. Normal peak snowpack has now occurred and is beginning to decline. <br />Statewide SNOTEL snowpack was 86% of average for April 19, 2006, and is declining daily because of snow meltout <br />that is currently occurring statewide. The peak snowmelt runoff generally occurs June 7 through June 10th. Some <br />local flooding may occur. <br />Colorado's reservoir levels are at 98% of average statewide and 114% of last year. Reservoir storage in the southern <br />part of the State is currently 66% - 110% of average and slightly above last year’s storage. However, much of the <br />current storage is carryover storage from last year due low precipitation this year. <br />The Long-Term Weather Outlook is indicating Colorado may have a better chance of moisture April into the <br />beginning of May and a heat wave from May 8 through the 18th that could cause a meltout problem in parts of the <br />State. <br />In June through July, Ft. Collins, and Denver's Front Range could have extreme storm events resulting in increased <br />flash flood potential. The monsoon season is predicted from June 30 until after July 4th. <br />A concern for high fire danger is predicted for the lower Front Range foothills, below 7,000 feet, and in the southern <br />mountains and San Luis Valley. <br />South of the Highway 50 corridor it is extremely dry. In the southern part of the State and the San Luis Valley, <br />farmers and ranchers have moved cattle from grazing pastures because of blowing dust and are buying hay to prepare <br />for reduced pasture acreage due to drought conditions. Farmers are considering planting fewer crops due to the dry <br />conditions and the potential for no water in the smaller ditches. <br />Colorado State University Cooperative Extension has activated their drought task force to prepare for conducting <br />educational programs for farmers and ranchers so they can make good management decisions regarding crops and <br />pastures during potential drought conditions. <br />