DWR_4151808

• Title: JULY 1990 SWSI: COLORADO WATER SUPPLY CONDITIONS UPDATE, SURFACE WATER SUPPLY INDEX
• Year: 1990
• Document Type - Publications and Reports: SWSI Monthly Report

•
• SOUTH PLATTE RIVER NR. KERSEY South Platte Basin Reservoir Supplies
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2.6 - � 240
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2.2 200
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1.4 120 f
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ARKANSAS
Basinwide Conditions Assessment:
The SWSI value of 0.6 indicates that June conditions were normal. The streamflow of the mainstem of the Arkansas
River has remained relatively high. Cumulative flow at the key index gaging station, Arkansas River near Portland, is
approximately 30% below average for the water year. This represents a considerable improvement over the previous
month and is due partially to releases from Twin Lakes Reservoir. The flow on the Purgatoire River has been extremely
low resulting in rapidly declining storage at Trinidad Reservoir. Pueblo Reservoir is currently storing approximately 75%
of average. John Martin Reservoir is currently storing approximately 25% of average.
Outlook:
Streamflow is expected to rapidly decline with a resultant drawdown of reservoir storage. Pueblo Reservoir's water
level is expected to dedine seven vertical feet by the end of July.
Administrative/Management Concerns:
The Bureau of Reclamation has committed to supplement natural flows in the upper Arkansas River during the 1990
summer months with releases of Frying Pan-Arkansas Project water to maintain a minimum flow of 700 cfs. This will
benefit both river recreationists and help to stabilize storage levels in Pueblo Reservoir. A similar operation is planned
to replenish the permanent recreation pool in John Martin Reservoir. The Colorado Division of Wildlife has contracted
for approximately 1700 acre-feet of water currently stored in Twin Lakes Reservoir which will be released downstream
to John Martin Reservoir in late July. The Colorado Division of Water Resources has been working closely with a
number of entities to secure water supplies to meet temporary deficits. These include the town of Rockvale, the Grandote
Golf and Country Club, and others.
Public Use Impacts:
Severe declines in water levels in John Martin Reservoir, Trinidad and the Great Plains Reservoirs have resulted in
diminished recreation uses. Plans to augment these declining levels are limited by a limited resource. The majority
of water rights are controlled by agriculture. A portion of these rights are in the final stages of being transferred to the
South Platte basin for municipal use further complicating the situation.
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