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• e <br /> SOUTH PLATTE BASIN April, 1997 <br /> J <br /> Basinwide Conditions Assessment: <br /> The SWSI value of 3.0 indicates that for March the SOUTH PLATTE RIVER BASIN <br /> Wa <br /> .r s <br /> asin water supplies were well above normal. Reservoir SurfaceSurfacet�Supply Ind.."I atery <br /> storage, the major component in this basin in computing the ,_ . <br /> SWSI value, was 104% of normal as of the end of February. W 3- "�"` ,. <br /> Storage in the major plains reservoirs: Julesburg, North _ r , f�' <br /> Sterling, and Prewitt, increased by 3,658 acre-feet during 2- • ; ,,. •Ai , w mod`' <br /> March and are at 96%of capacity. Storage in the major upper 5.5. 1 'l" -- _ __ <br /> basin reservoirs:Cheesman,Eleven Mile,Spinney,and Antero, i 0 �'I�� ~ ' itr <br /> o t <br /> - .1: <br /> decreased by 2,022 acre-feet and are at 79% of capacity. The _,_ <br /> National Resources Conservation Service reports April 1 Y ;= <br /> ix _2- <br /> snowpack as 110% of normal. The mean daily flow of the <br /> South Platte River at the Kersey gage was 645 cfs, as -3 <br /> compared to the long term average of 846 cfs. Flow at the -A -. <br /> JAN99 JANOS JAN90 JAN91 JAN92 JAN93 JAN91 JAN9S JAN99 JAN97 <br /> Colorado/Nebraska state line averaged 379 cfs, compared to , YEAR <br /> the long term average of 553 cfs. <br /> Outlook <br /> With the warm,dry,and sometimes windy conditions <br /> throughout March, the snowpack went from significantly SOUTH PLATTE RIVER NR. KERSEY <br /> above average to slightly above average. Nevertheless, the 700 FLOW WATER YEAR <br /> supply conditions still look fairly good with most reservoirs on <br /> both the mainstem and tributaries full. <br /> Diversions during March continued primarily for 4.1: 500 <br /> municipal purposes, storage, and recharge. By the end of the <br /> month there was already limited demand for irrigation water ..I 400 <br /> as many users had already flushed and cleaned their ditches. LL <br /> P �•�9DD <br /> Ise was primarily for irrigating grass hay and vegetables. s V <br /> There was no call on the mainstem below Denver during A 200 <br /> March. Unless rain or snow comes it is expected that demand <br /> for direct flow irrigation water will grow significantly the next <br /> few days, with a mainstem call placed early in April. 0 <br /> Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Nerch den I I <br /> IONTH <br /> 0 WET(1993) o CRY(196e) G AVG % 1997 <br /> Administrative/Management Concerns <br /> While the overall water supply situation looks fairly <br /> positive, there is a concern there will be a shortage of water <br /> in some areas the next few weeks before the start of runoff. <br /> If this shortage occurs, the use of reservoir water would be REPRESENTATIVE RESERVOIRS <br /> required which leads to the possibility of a shortage of S PLATTE EWER BASIN22O- <br /> reservoir water later in the summer if the those supplies 2.��7, <br /> cannot be refilled during spring. A wet April would alleviate 180 <br /> these concerns. : 160 <br /> As in most years,basin administrators expect a call on i 1.0 <br /> the mainstem for a shortperiod in latter April as demand ' 120 <br /> � -.A. �� <br /> usually exceeds supplies for a short time prior to runoff. t,2 100 � • <br /> 80-� \ \� <br /> 0 60—^ 7-7 <br /> � �\ <br /> AO <br /> /\ //- // z\. 7_ <br /> 20-," N <br /> OIIIan Noreetcoth Eleven MII♦ Choirs*** J.ctavn trim Lake <br /> ® Avg. 3/31 Content. ® 3/31/97 ConW It9 <br /> 3 <br />