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i <br /> SOUTH PLATTE BASIN <br /> - Basinwide Conditions Assessment: <br /> The SWSI value of 0.6 indicates that for February the SOUTH PLATTE RIVER BASIN <br /> basin water supplies were near normal. Reservoir storage,the 5 .f.C.91W Supply Index NI story <br /> major component in this basin in computing the SWSI value, 4 <br /> was 105% of normal on February 28. Storage in the major F _ <br /> plains reservoirs, Julesburg, North Sterling, and Prewitt, 31....: "` <br /> increased by 10,510 acre-feet during February and are at 79% -ia- 7 ? <br /> :',L,of capacity. Storage in the major upper basin reservoirs, 1 � 4— - `" "`- <br /> 1r4ir <br /> Cheesman, Eleven Mile, Spinney, and Antero, decreased by g 0 a.,- .. , r" <br /> ii <br /> 2,573 acre-feet and are at 81% of capacity. The Natural _,_ IC; <br /> Resources Conservation Service reports March 1 snowpack as Y = <br /> a -2- <br /> 73%of normal. The mean daily flow of the South Platte River <br /> at the Kersey gage was 611 cfs,as compared to the 1961-1993 _3- <br /> February average of 799 cfs. Flow at the Colorado/Nebraska -4 ............. ..................... ...............-......- ................... ................... <br /> JAN06 JAN87 JAN118 JAN89 JAN90 JAN91 JAN92 JAN93 JAN94 JAN95 <br /> state line averaged 251 cfs. The National Weather Service 143NTHIYEAR <br /> computes basin precipitation as 133% of normal during the <br /> month. <br /> The warm weather has allowed the continued filling <br /> of the plains reservoirs which are at normal levels for this ' <br /> time of year. Overall, storage on the main stem of the South SOUTH PLATTE RIVER NR. KERSEY <br /> Platte river increased approximately 32,000 acre-feet during ,50 FLOW BY WATER YEAR <br /> February. Generally,Denver metro area reservoirs are also at 400 <br /> normal levels. Of more concern, reservoirs on tributaries are <br /> 350 <br /> significantly below average levels. <br /> 300 <br /> ^ <br /> Outlook 1 250 <br /> Snowpack improved in the South Platte basin during g 200 <br /> the month of February mainly due to one large snow storm in ,50 <br /> the middle of the month. Although improved from last <br /> 100 <br /> month, snowpack continues to be lower than normal <br /> throughout the basin, with most significant shortfalls in the 50 <br /> northern mountains. To illustrate, the snowpack at the end <br /> Oct "°" Jen s„ <br /> of the month in the Clear Creek drainage was 78%of average MONTH <br /> 1995 <br /> while the Poudre basin was only 63% of average. Thus, it is WET""�' o DRY`' "' AVG <br /> x <br /> still anticipated that the runoff this spring will be below <br /> normal unless there is significant late season snow and spring <br /> rain. <br /> Representative Reservoirs <br /> Administrative/Management Concerns 220 South Platte een:ln <br /> River calls continued to be primarily for storage which 220100 <br /> is normal for this time of year. The main administrative180-2A\,/,..\\ <br /> 170 <br /> concern is filling of tributary reservoirs this winter and spring. ' 160 � <br /> 150-// \\ <br /> Without better than average precipitation during the next few t - <br /> months this will probably be another significantly below '� 120-� <br /> averageyear for stream flows which maylead to shortages, L 100 %� <br /> g g „� 90� <br /> especially in the tributary drainage basins. D A <br /> so � <br /> 340 <br /> 0 /\ <br /> 20.--„," 7/..- <br /> 'a /. \ % '7- % ... /. \ :/;,: p7 <br /> 0 <br /> Dillon Nnrcatooth Eleven Mlle Chommeen JSCAcon Barr Lake <br /> ® Avp. 2128 Contents ® 2,2N95 Contents <br /> 3 <br />