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<br />COLORADO <br />WATER SUPPLY CONDITIONS UPDATE <br /> <br />September 2005 <br /> <br />FROM THE OFFICE OF THE STATE ENGINEER: COLORADO DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES <br />ROOM 818,1313 SHERMAN ST., DENVER, CO 80203 <br />303-866-3581; 'MVW.water.state.co.us <br /> <br />Although more field offices reported lower than normal stream flows and precipitation in August than reported <br />above normal amounts, conditions did vary across the state during the month as represented by the combination of <br />positive and negative SWSI values. Current conditions are much improved form those that affected the entire state and <br />bottomed out in 2002, but there are few, if any, areas where all water supply aspects would be considered to have <br />improved to good conditions. Continuing affects of the multiple years of drought are widespread, whether in the form of <br />low stream flows, empty reservoir storage, lowered ground water tables, or dry soil moisture. An extended period of <br />above normal precipitation appears needed to get back Into what would be considered wet conditions. <br /> <br />The Surface Water Supply Index (SWSI) developed by this office and the U,S.D.A. Natural Resources <br />Conservation Service is used as an indicator of mountain-based water supply conditions in the major river basins of the <br />state. It is based on stream flow, reservoir storage, and precipitation for the summer period (May through October). <br />During the summer period, stream flow is the primary component in all basins except the South Platte basin where <br />reservoir storage is given the most weight. The following SWSI values were computed for each of the seven major basins <br />for September 1, 2005, and reflect the conditions during the month of August. <br /> <br />Basin <br />South Platte <br />Arkansas <br />Rio Grande <br />Gunnison <br />Colorado <br />Yampa/White <br />San Juan/Dolores <br /> <br />-4 <br />Severe <br />Drought <br /> <br />-3 <br /> <br />-2 <br />Moderate <br />Drought <br /> <br />September 1, 2005 <br />SWSI Value <br />+2,5 <br />-1.0 <br />-0.7 <br />-1.1 <br />+0.1 <br />-0.4 <br />+0.8 <br /> <br />Change From <br />Previous Month <br />+1.6 <br />+0,5 <br />-1.6 <br />-1,0 <br />-0.4 <br />-0.4 <br />-0.6 <br /> <br />-1 <br /> <br />Scale <br />o <br />Near Normal <br />Supply <br /> <br />1 <br /> <br />Change From <br />Previous Year <br />+1,4 <br />+1.2 <br />+2.3 <br />+2.2 <br />+3.1 <br />+3.0 <br />+3,7 <br /> <br />2 <br />Above Normal <br />Supply <br /> <br />3 <br /> <br />4 <br />Abundant <br />Supply <br />