DWR_4151826

• Title: JULY 1997 SWSI: COLORADO WATER SUPPLY CONDITIONS UPDATE, SURFACE WATER SUPPLY INDEX
• Year: 1997
• Document Type - Publications and Reports: SWSI Monthly Report

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SOUTH PLATTE BASIN July, 1997
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Basinwide Conditions Assessment:
The SWSI value of 3.7 indicates that for June the SOUTH PLATTE RIVER BASIN
)asin water supplies were above normal. Reservoir storage, S Surface Water SCpIy India NI y
the major component in this basin in computing the SWSI ,_
value,was 109%of normal as of the end of June. Storage in 3_ Ia I .•;
the major plains reservoirs: Julesburg, North Sterling, and ! 7 =
Prewitt, increased by 6,251 acre-feet during June and are at 2 • - 7.. r ` L ' "-'4 ---..- .- �-
99%of capacity. Storage in the major upper basin reservoirs: e 1---T. , -r z :W
I '
Cheesman, Eleven Mile, Spinney, and Antero, increased by i D V- 11. - .
35,669 acre-feet and are at 94% of capacity. The mean daily _ - 31
_1 r I
flow of the South Platte River at the Kersey gage was 9,505 }
cfs, as compared to the long term average of 2,853 cfs.
Several rain storms in addition to above average
snowpack runoff provided for excellent river conditions during -i I ...-- -
JAN88 JAN89 JAN90 JAN91 JAN92 JAN93 JAN94 JAN95 JAN96 JAN97
June. Fortunately,the runoff occurred in a fairly even manner ..n.v YEAR
and there was limited flooding. This was in contrast to 1995
when very high flows caused some flooding for nearly a
month.
Weather and flow conditions provided for a good start
to the crop growing season. There was no call on the SOUTH PLATTE RIVER NR. KERSEY
mainstem of the South Platte downstream of Denver during 2.8 i FLOW BY WATER YEAR
June. Likewise, many of the tributaries did not have a call 2.6 -
during the majority of the month. The calls which did exist 2.4
2.2
were for storage. 1 2
M 1.8 -
,' t
i
Outlook W 2 1.0 p
The water supply goinginto thehot summer LL= 1.4 iT1
PP Y dry 1.2
months is excellent. Shortages and associated water calls are 3
expected to occur within about the first week of July. Like 1
last year, these calls are expected to begin later than usual °s
D•
due to the excellent supply conditions. Because of the high 0.2 — - •
flow conditions and reservoir storage levels, no widespread D - �--
Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb March Aprll May June July Aug Sept
water shortages are expected this summer. MONTH
0 WET C1983) O DRY C19,4) A AVG X 1997
Administrative/Management Concerns
River flows dropped off dramatically toward the end
of the month with the South Platte at the Kersey gage going
from over 10,000 cfs to approximately 1,600 cfs the last week REPRESENTATIVE RESERVOIRS
of June. 260 SOUTH PLATTE RIVER RAS1N
Of note, the Department of Natural Resources 240-77'
conducted several public meetings during June to discuss the 220
agreement in principle on the elements of a proposed program 200_�\N
180 A
to restore and protect the habitat of listed endangered species 160 A
in Central Nebraska. A press release concerning this subject 14D 7
can be obtained by contacting Jim Carpenter or Matt Sugar at ai 120/ �
[phone]. 100 /��\ �7
Public Use Impacts _�
so far this season is 20_�
The only negative for agriculture7J . M
associated with hail damage produced by several intense D
Dillon Hprsetooth Eleven MI l• Ch omen Jackson ?err Lake
thunderstorms. Though some hail damage occurs most years,
is seems as if the hail storms were more numerous and ® ""° 6/30 "tent' ® 6/3°!97 Contonta -
widespread in damaging crops this June.
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