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BASIN ASSESSMENTS <br /> South Platte <br /> The SWSI value of -1.7 is the highest of the seven major basins in <br /> Colorado. The runoff forecast is 85% of average ranging from 73% for Bear <br /> Creek to 93% for the South Boulder Creek basin. Flow for the month of <br /> February at the key index station, South Platte River near Kersey, averaged <br /> 720 cfs as compared to the normal flow of 651 cfs. Groundwater levels in the <br /> South Platte River alluvium declined in 72% of the wells monitored during the <br /> period 1988-1989. The historic rate of decline is 0.2 feet whereas the <br /> average rate of decline over the period 1988-1989 is 1.5 feet; an 800 percent <br /> increase. Soil moisture is classified as being low. <br /> Arkansas <br /> The runoff forecast is 79% of average ranging from 66% for the Arkansas <br /> River basin above Pueblo Reservoir to 88% for the Huerfano River basin. <br /> Winter water storage in Pueblo Reservoir and John Martin Reservoir is 16,000 <br /> acre-feet behind the amount stored during this same period one year ago. <br /> Pueblo Reservoir storage content was 150,844 acre-feet as of March 1, 1990, as <br /> compared to 193,816 acre-feet in storage on March 1, 1989. Flow for the month <br /> of February at the key index station, Arkansas River at Portland, averaged 281 <br /> cfs as compared to the normal flow of 304 cfs. Soil moisture is classified as <br /> being very low. <br /> Rio Grande <br /> The SWSI value of -3.2 is the second lowest in the state and indicates <br /> moderate to severe drought conditions. Runoff is forecast to be only 49% of <br /> average ranging from 31% for the San Antonio River basin to 76% for the <br /> Culebra Creek drainage. Flow for the month of February at the key index <br /> station, Rio Grande near Del Norte, averaged 139 cfs as compared to the normal <br /> flow of 199 cfs. Groundwater conditions have been steadily declining for two <br /> years. Soil moisture is classified as being very low. <br /> Gunnison <br /> Runoff is forecast to be 52% of average ranging from 43% for the <br /> Uncompaghre River basin to 68% for the Taylor River basin. Flow for the month <br /> of February for the key index station, Gunnison River at Delta, averaged <br /> 432 cfs as compared to the normal flow of 1909 cfs. . Flows below Blue Mesa <br /> Reservoir are significantly affected by storage releases which are highly <br /> dependent upon hydroelectric power generation requirements. <br /> Colorado <br /> Runoff is forecast to be 73% of average ranging from 63% for the Roaring <br /> Fork River basin to 86% for the upper Colorado River basin. The flow for <br /> February for the key index station, Colorado River near the Colorado-Utah <br /> stateline, averaged 2069 cfs as compared to the normal flow of 3370 cfs. <br />