DWR_4151881

• Title: SEPTEMBER 1994 SWSI: COLORADO WATER SUPPLY CONDITIONS UPDATE, SURFACE WATER SUPPLY INDEX
• Year: 1994
• Document Type - Publications and Reports: SWSI Monthly Report

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YAMPA/WEIITE BASIN
Basinwide Conditions Assessment:
The SWSI value of-3.6 indicates that for August the YAMPA-WHITE RIVER BASINS
basin water supplies were severely below normal. Flow at the S Surface""K swclY Intlax H,/tyrY
gaging station Yampa River at Steamboat averaged 62 cfs as ,-
compared to the 1961-1993 August average of 157 cfs. The -
ha 1 h
National Weather Service reports basin precipitation as 115%
2
of normal during the month.
Thunderstorm activity near the end of the month . i
provided some relief to localized areas such as Steamboat 1 0 ;_ -,�, �,,., 11-,/, ,t
was recorded for '�'' Q, --`\^� "
Springs, where 1.37 inches of precipitation ,- / ��.. ��_ v,
August (86% of the long term average). The majority of the a 2- ' ~ "^ -i
area continued to experience warm, dry weather and river \" i ft-
flows continued to decline. The Yampa River dropped to 8.0 3 = r
cfs at Maybell on August 25,and to 6.0 cfs at Craig on August -4 I r ....,.T
JANBS JANB6 JAN87 JAMB JAN99 JAN90 JAN91 JAN92 JA1,093 JAN94
30. Many of the side tributaries had no flow during the ICNTw YEAR
month. The exception to the drastically low flows was the
White River, which remained at an adequate level to supply
the demands placed on it. Pasture grass is in extremely poor
condition, except for areas with the better water supplies.
Construction of sand and gravel dams in the river channels YAMPA RIVER AT STEAMBOAT
FLOW BY WATER YEAR
were required to provide water for ditches attempting to divert GOO
water after the hay harvest. In most cases, the cost far
exceeded the benefits as only small amounts of water were 500
'
obtained. ."s
400
in
Outlook o i 300 -mil'
Stream flows will continue at or near existing levels t'i
until the area experiences a killing frost, or significant 8 V 200
precipitation is received. Long range forecasts offer little hope 1
for relief. Continued low stream flows will severely stress ,00
water supplies throughout the area.
O
Ott Nyy 0. Jan Feb March Ayr1I May Juno July A. Eeei
Administrative/Management Concerns 14NTM
o WET(1/M) o DRY(1177) a AYR ■ i/M
Administration will continue in the North Platte River
basin,Bear River, and many side tributaries within the Yampa
River basin. Administration of the main stem of the White
and Yampa Rivers is still a possibility. Fish Creek Reservoir, the water supply for Mount Werner and Steamboat Springs,
was drained to allow the dam to be repaired and enlarged. Water restrictions have now been imposed on users of the
municipal system. Even with restrictions, reserve supplies may be insufficient to meet demands.
Public Use Impacts
Public use of the rivers will be limited to activities that do not require much water.
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