Laserfiche WebLink
SOUTH PLATTE BASIN March, 1997 <br /> Basinwide Conditions Assessment: <br /> The SWSI value of 3.2 indicates that for February the SOUTH PLATTE RIVER BASIN <br /> sin water supplies were well above normal. Reservoir 5 Surface Water Supply '"°'"History <br /> storage, the major component in this basin in computing the 4- <br /> SWSI value, was 109% of normal as of the end of February. - <br /> ul 3- j ` p- � <br /> Storage in the major plains reservoirs: Julesburg, North .,. <br /> Sterling, and Prewitt, increased by 14,442 acre-feet during 2= • . I -: '' ; ;a ; <br /> February and are at 93% of capacity. Storage in the major i I . w ---�±-- <br /> � . - <br /> upper basin reservoirs: Cheesman, Eleven Mile, Spinney, and g a v - � ��: ! <br /> z <br /> Antero, decreased by 3,614 acre-feet and are at 80% of <br /> capacity. The National Resources Conservation Service reports , <br /> a _2 J <br /> March 1 snowpack as 134% of normal. The mean daily flow <br /> of the South Platte River at the Kersey gage was 775 cfs, as 3 <br /> compared to the long term average of 855 cfs. Flow at the •-. r • <br /> - <br /> JANBB JAN89 JAN5G JAN91 JAN92 JAN93 JAN94 JAN95 JAN96 JAN97 <br /> Colorado/Nebraska state line averaged 513 cfs, compared to hUNTWYEAR <br /> the long term average of 601 cfs. <br /> River flows were approximately average for the month <br /> of February on both the main stem and tributaries of the <br /> South Platte. Diversions continued primarily for storage, <br /> recharge, and direct municipal use. Most reservoirs have SOUTH PLATTE RIVER NR. KERSEY <br /> either filled or are expected to fill without difficulty this 450 FL°"6Y eAVES EAR <br /> spring. The only call on the South Platte continued to be for 400 <br /> storage upstream of Denver. <br /> 350 <br /> Outlook t ::: <br /> jj ^esnowpack in the mountains continued above :1 <br /> average. The final snowpack level will be effected by the LL�g a°° <br /> ow fall the next two months, generally the period when the ,5° <br /> sin gets the most precipitation. If wet conditions continue, <br /> 1°°-. <br /> it is expected there will be a very high snowpack. Based on <br /> present conditions,it continues to appear that there will be an S0 <br /> average or above average water supply throughout the basin ° <br /> Gct hqv °.c Jan Feb itfrch <br /> this year. <br /> ►UNTH <br /> O WET(1983) o DRY C1964? p AVG X 1.7 <br /> Administrative/Management Concerns <br /> The pilot Tamarack Ranch recharge site began <br /> continuous permanent operation in February. This project <br /> was developed through the cooperation of several entities Representative Reservoirs <br /> along the South Platte which have joined as part of the South 220 South Nett.Bas4n <br /> Platte Lower River Group. This is one of many projects, 200-✓�� <br /> applications, and testings which have been at least partly a 190-A <br /> result of this group. a 160 <br /> A technical committee continues to look at long term a 140 <br /> and short term recovery of the fishery and macro invertebrates `i 120%� <br /> in the North Poudre River. There had been significant b g 100 <br /> damage from a sediment discharge out of Halligan Reservoir . B°-� <br /> earlier in the year. In addition, a task committee was formed 6R <br /> y\A /\ /\ , <br /> that will review the proposed recovery plan and look at ways to improve the existing reservoir release agreement. The 20 <br /> '/A/\group's objective is to obtain a new agreement between the ° ��� f�� <br /> Dillon Horsetooth Eleven et!. Cheeenan Jackson Garr Lake <br /> Division of Wildlife,the Division of Water Resources,and dam <br /> owners within the Cache La Poudre basin which will provide ® Avg. 2,2a content. ISM 2/28/97 Content, <br /> advance notice of future reservoir releases that may <br /> tain significant sediment. Based on this experience, the <br /> long term goal is to get an agreement in other basins of the state. <br /> 3 <br />