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t <br /> r . <br /> SOUTH PLATTE BASIN <br /> y Basinwide Conditions Assessment: <br /> The SWSI value of 1.8 indicates that for September SOUTH PLATTE RIVER BASIN <br /> the basin water supplies were above normal. Basin S S"''°'"Bt.,5.Kfply Index"I.tOrY <br /> administrators feel conditions are poorer than the SWSI value 4 <br /> indicates. Reservoir storage,the key component in this basin • W ; . <br /> in computing the SWSI value, was 100% of normal on <br /> September 30. Storage in the major plains reservoirs, = I' • ; Ar <br /> - <br /> Julesburg, North Sterling, and Prewitt, decreased by 5,893 j .... mol <br /> �� ., - <br /> acre-feet during September and are at 9%of capacity. Storage i o �' <br /> in the major upper basin reservoirs, Cheesman, Eleven Mile, _, <br /> Spinney, and Antero, decreased by 9,156 acre-feet and are at )• , <br /> 87% of capacity. The mean daily flow of the South Platte o -� <br /> River at the Kersey gage was 434 cfs, as compared to the -Si <br /> 1961-1993 September average of 727 cfs. Flow at the -� <br /> JANOS JANBA JANe7 JMEIe JA 1e JANGO JAN91 JAN92 JAN113 JAN04 <br /> Colorado/Nebraska state line averaged 22 cfs. The National IRifTW YE1A <br /> Weather Service reports basin precipitation as 65%of normal <br /> during the month. <br /> Rains in September brought some relief from the very <br /> dry conditions. The demand for water was significantly <br /> lowered with the completion of the irrigation season. SOUTH PLATTE RIVER NR. KERSEY <br /> Nevertheless,the calls on the river continue to be more senior 2.e - <br /> FLOW <br /> BY WATER <br /> " YEAR <br /> than generally expected this time of year. The only irrigation 2.6 <br /> continuing at the end of September was for alfalfa and grass 2. <br /> 4 <br /> 2.2 <br /> hay. With the precipitation and the reduced demand for 1 2 <br /> direct irrigation diversions some water was available to be }4 <br /> n ,.e <br /> stored and used in recharge plans. The precipitation also s 2 14 <br /> allowed for the planting of the winter wheat crop which had e u 1.2threatened <br /> . <br /> been in some ares. i <br /> Administrative/Management Concerns 0 4 >K <br /> The dry summer has created very low storage levels 0.2 • <br /> for all of the plains irrigation reservoirs. Some major O <br /> Oct Now Oec Jan Feb MoreH Ar.If May Jar, Jv ly Ao2 Sept <br /> irrigation reservoirs have been completely drained for the first ,13ltl4 <br /> time in several years. Empty reservoirs include Jackson, '"e7 01"'"e`4' >< "" <br /> Empire, Riverside, and Julesburg. Filling these reservoirs for <br /> the next irrigation season will depend on average or above <br /> average rain and snow in the coming months. Significant <br /> precipitation will also be necessary to recover the lowered REPRESENTATIVE RESERVOIRS <br /> water tables in some areas. Without significant precipitation, 5. <br /> "PLATTE PIveB BASIN <br /> irrigation water shortages may be expected next year. .- 7 <br /> Municipal reservoirs are generally at normal levels. 200-",,,, <br /> The special use permits issued by the Forest Service i 70 <br /> allowing continued operation of several reservoirs in Arapaho 70 <br /> and Roosevelt National Forests have been appealed. Some i 3 ,20 70 A <br /> parties are appealing to clarify the permits, and others are a g 120 <br /> concerned whether the permits are in compliance with the • <br /> Forest Service Plan. 3 <br /> Representatives from Colorado, Nebraska, Wyoming, 40 <br /> -A 7 <br /> the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and the environmentalso <br /> community have embarked on negotiations to develop a basin 0 ml <br /> Ol lion Norsetovth Eleren YI I• C+-•-kan Jackson Barr tyre <br /> wide Platte River endangered species habitat recovery <br /> program. The focus of the negotiations will be on target flows ® ""°° "'°°°"""" ® 'r'¢""Canopy. <br /> and pulse flows. <br /> 3 <br />