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Colorado Water Availability Task Force Summary of April 20, 2006 Meeting The meeting was held at the Colorado Division of Wildlife Headquarters in Denver, Colorado. Those in recorded attendance included: Jack Byers, DWR Mike Gillespie, NRCS Roger Pielke, Sr., State Climatologist Mary Halstead, CDOW John Gordon, USGS Barry Cress, DOLA Tom Browning, CWCB Klaus Wolter, NOAA Rick Marsicek, City of Aurora John Henz, HDR Betty Onuh, Rocky Mountain News Kathie Hepp-Lucki, CWCB Veva McCaig, CWCB Treste Huse, NOAA Andy Pineda, NCWCD Rob Wawizynski, CDA Frank McNulty, CDNR Scott Archer, USDI-BLM Don West, DWR Kevin Reidy, City of Aurora Jeff Tranel, CSU Kevin Lusk, Colorado Springs Jerd Smith, Rocky Mountain News The meeting was called to order at 2:00 p.m. on April 20, 2006. Executive Summary A high level of fire danger currently exists in the Front Range and in the foothills. The lower Front Range foothills, below 7,000 feet, and the southern mountains and San Luis Valley presently are at the highest risk for fire activity. Agriculture concerns are high presently because of the winds and low levels of precipitation along the eastern plains. Concern for the agriculture sector continues to be high particularly in the southern part of the state as well as on the eastern plains. The CSU Cooperative Extension has activated its Drought Task Force to assist fanners and ranchers. Statewide reservoir storage is normal for this time of year at 98% of average and 114% of last year's average. While reservoir storage levels around the state continue to improve from record lows in 2002 and 2003, levels in the south and southwest do not accurately represent the below average snowpack and precipitation levels they have been experiencing. These reservoir levels have benefited from last year's carryover storage. Water supply status is presently average statewide. However, the southern half of the state may have water supply concerns later this summer because of the very dry, near drought conditions and presently the streamflow is only 50-75% of average. Currently there are no providers having significant problems to meet their water demands. Large water suppliers, such as Denver Water and the City of Aurora will most likely have a mixture of voluntary and mandatory water restrictions this year.