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SOUTH PLATE BASIN <br /> Basinwide Conditions Assessment: <br /> The SWSI value of 3.3 indicates that for April the SOUTH PLATTE RIVER BASIN <br /> sury.c.Water Supply Index Nl.torY <br /> sin water supplies were well above normal. Reservoir S <br /> storage, the major component in this basin in computing the 4_ <br /> SWSI value, was 105% of normal as of the end of April. w 1. . ., ` . <br /> Storage in the major plains reservoirs, Julesburg, North • 1 :r' . , 6 ....-r� <br /> Sterling, and Prewitt, decreased by 3,950 acre-feet during 2 -- 1 .---: • - :e — <br /> April and are at 91%of capacity. Storage in the major upper I ,;'.; <br /> basin reservoirs,Cheesman,Eleven Mile,Spinney,and Antero, i a .1 ism � <br /> decreased by 2,690 acre-feet and are at 86%of capacity. The _,_ <br /> Natural Resources Conservation Service-reports March 1 <br /> . -2- - <br /> snowpack as 147% of normal. The mean daily flow of the a <br /> South Platte River at the Kersey gage was 441 cfs, as -.- <br /> compared to the long term average of 992 cfs. Flow at the <br /> JAH97 JANB6 JAN99 JAN90 JAN91 JAN92 JAN93 JAN91 JAMS JAN99 <br /> Colorado/Nebraska state line averaged 268 cfs. Jam„1,yEAR <br /> April was an extremely dry month on the plains <br /> although the mountain snowpack continued to exceed <br /> average. The lack of precipitation on the plains was unusual <br /> for April. The dry warm conditions prompted ditch companies <br /> to open irrigation ditches. Since snow melt had generally not SOUTH PLATTE RIVER NR. KERSEY <br /> FLAY BY WATER YEAR <br /> begun, the calls were more senior than normal for this time 1.3 <br /> of year. The senior main stem call occurring during April was 1.2 <br /> by the Fulton Ditch with a July 8, 1876 priority. The flow in 1.1 <br /> the South Platte dropped dramatically as a result of the o <br /> irrigation diversions and dry conditions. Due to the dry L <br /> r.conditions, some reservoir water was released to meet ;I D.7 <br /> irrigation demand. LL= a.6 <br /> F 0.5 <br /> Ltlook 0.4 <br /> D.3 <br /> Flows will increase dramatically the next several O 2 <br /> weeks as snow melt begins. The runoff is expected to be 9.1 ____'" ' <br /> above average, with supplies for most of the tributaries and a <br /> Oct Nov Dec .Jan Fab Merck Aar I I WAY <br /> main stem being above normal this year. It is still anticipated „D„„I <br /> 0 WET(1993) o OW(19114) a AVG X 1996 <br /> that reservoirs will not have difficulty filling as runoff occurs <br /> during May and June. As usual, the amount of summer rain <br /> will have a significant impact on late irrigation season supply. <br /> Administrative/Management Concerns REPRESENTATIVE RESERVOIRS <br /> There remains some concern that there may be 210 SOUTH <br /> PLATTE RIVER BASIN <br /> potential flooding. Isolated flooding could occur if there is 2,00 <br /> significant rainfall on top of high flows during runoff. _.", <br /> ;7 <br /> The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will have two = 160 \,_/" <br /> public meetings in May to talk about flood related issues in 4 1 <br /> the South Platte basin. The Corps will take public comment s1 120 <br /> �� <br /> on its revision of the Water Control Manuals for the operation h 2 '9, <br /> of Bear Creek, Cherry Creek, and Chatfield Reservoirs. They n ,D <br /> will also explain their new regional 404 permit for flood 1 <br /> 30 7-7 <br /> repair and protection. At these meetings,the Colorado Water A /\ <br /> Conservation Board will present a proposal to conduct a multi- o /� /� 7 N -// <br /> objective study of the South Platte basin. a�� //^\\ <br /> DII Ion Horatootn Eleven MI Is Cheepe.n Jackson Barr Lake <br /> It is still anticipated that there will be shortages later <br /> ® Avg. 4/30 Cont.nte ® 4/3G/96 Contonte <br /> in the year in the Little Thompson, Saint Vrain, and Boulder <br /> Creek basins due to the explosion at the Flatiron Pumping <br /> lion. The primary parties affected will be those who lease <br /> £water on an annual basis. <br /> 3 <br />