Summary of Select Water Storage and Flow Conditions

• File Number: 8461.450
• Description: EAC/RCC
• State: CO
• Basin: South Platte
• Water Division: 1
• Date: 4/19/2000
• Author: Rick Brown, Randy Seaholm
• Title: Summary of Select Water Storage and Flow Conditions
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Correspondence

STATE OF COLORADO
Colorado Water Conservation Board
Department of Natural Resources
1313 Sherman Street, Room 721
Denver, Colorado 80203
Phone: [phone]
FAX: [phone]
To: Reservoir Coordinating Committee Members
From: Rick Brown, Platte River Coordinator,?D.
Colorado Water Conservation Board
Randy Seaholm, Chief, Interstate Streams Section,
Colorado Water Conservation Board
Date:
Subj ect:
April 19, 2000
Summary of Select Water Storage Information and Flow Conditions
for the South Platte River Basin
1. INTRODUCTION
9
Bill Owens
Governor
Greg E.Walcher
ExecuHve Director
Peter H. Evans
CWCB D'uector
Dan McAuliffe
Deputy Director
Colorado is pleased to provide the following information in support of the Reservoir
Coordinating Committee (RCC) for the three state Platte River Cooperative Agreement.
In preparing the information we focused our efforts on the South Platte River and select
data which we believe is the most relevant for the RCC. We have also included a number
of Internet Sites which people can access for additional information and up-to-date
information over the next several months.
II. WATER SUPPLY dUTLOOK
Stream Flow
Attached are several graphs of historic and current (March 2000) flow information for the
South Platte River at Julesburg. The mean daily flow for the South Platte at Julesburg for
March 2000 and for the period of record (1902-present) is 794 cubic feet per second (cfs)
and 559cfs, respectively (see Figures 1,2, and 3). For comparison the March 1999 mean
daily flow at Julesburg was 523 cfs. Keep in mind that Colorado was expecting a below
average water year in March 1999 but late spring and early summer rain quickly changed
that outlook to an average to above average water year.
Figures 4 and 5 show South Platte mean monthly flows at Julesburg. A composite of the
minimum and maximum mean monthly flows for the period of record 1902-1998 is also
included to provide the reader with a sense of the wide range of flows which can be
expected. As shown on the graphs the average flow at Julesburg is slightly above
average for this water year versus the period of record.
Figure 6 shows predicted stream flow in Colorado as of April 1. Stream flow for the
South Platte basin is estimated to be at 90 to 110 percent of average.