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e <br /> SOUTH PLATTE BASIN <br /> ' Basinwide Conditions Assessment: <br /> The SWSI value of-1.4 indicates that for March the SOUTH PLATTE RIVER BASIN <br /> asin water supplies were below normal. Reservoir storage, s S ''�Wail, SvoIY Index History <br /> the key component in this basin in computing the SWSI value, <br /> was 107% of normal on March 31. Storage in the major u' . ' f <br /> 3, �" 1- <br /> plains reservoirs, Julesburg, North Sterling, and Prewitt, <br /> increased by 8,510 acre-feet during March and are at 95% of F_• 1 � . •• =, ► . <br /> capacity. Storage in the major upper basin reservoirs, 1 �. . l r �.. k _ <br /> Cheesman, Eleven Mile, Spinney, and Antero, decreased by i a ' ►r =�,' . <br /> 322 acre-feet and are at 86% of capacity. The Soil <br /> Conservation Service reports March 31 snowpack at 93% of - ' <br /> normal. The National Weather Service reports basin <br /> precipitation as 71%of normal during March. The mean daily 3 V <br /> flow of the South Platte River at the Kersey gage was 724 cfs, -4 1 <br /> JAN8S JAN86 JAN67 JAN88 JAN89 JAN90 JAN91 JAN92 JAN93 JAN94 <br /> as compared to the 1961-1993 March average of 846 cfs. MONTH/YEAR <br /> Flow at the Colorado/Nebraska state line averaged 558 cfs. <br /> Outlook <br /> The 1994 irrigation season approaches as we look <br /> ahead into April. March was a dry month with only one SOUTH PLATTE RIVER NP. KERSEY <br /> storm of significance in the middle of the month adding to the 7DD FLOW BY WATER YEAR <br /> snowpack. Thus, the amount of snow in relation to average <br /> declined and river flows were slightly below average. MD <br /> Nevertheless, snowpack at the end of the month appears to be 1 300 <br /> only slightly below normal. South Park and Boulder Creek zn <br /> drainages are the areas with the lowest and highest snowpack :I <br /> 400 <br /> respectively. Reservoirs have an average or above average W• 300 <br /> mount of water for this time of year. <br /> I 200 <br /> �y <br /> Administrative/Management Concerns <br /> ,00 <br /> The conditions were dry enough at the end of the <br /> month that some ditch companies began running water. 0 <br /> Oct Nov Oec Jan Feb March April <br /> Much of the water was used simply to flush the ditches and ►t7NTH <br /> O WET(1983) O DRY(1964) A AVG X 1994 <br /> returned to the river, but some users did begin to irrigate. <br /> The initiation of irrigation this early does create some <br /> concerns as it is an indicator of the generally dry weather. <br /> However, there was no mainstem call below Denver, and it is <br /> still too early to tell if there will be any shortages of water as REPRESENTATIVE RESERVOIRS <br /> the majority of precipitation occurs during the next two 210 SOUTH PLATTE RIVER BASIN <br /> L.months. The precipitation amount during April and May will 2,9D-/ <br /> be critical in determining if this will be a below average, 170 <br /> average, or above average year for water supply in the basin. s ;so <br /> Z-A <br /> Good storage supplies will be helpful regardless of the , 130 <br /> weather conditions the next few months. These supplies will a 120 /� <br /> be even more important if we have a dry spring. '90 A �� ti <br /> ,,,, <br /> Public Use Impacts I BO <br /> ,,,„ ',, <br /> River flows and reservoir conditions are such that 4.40 y \\ <br /> recreationists should not be prevented form enjoying their 20 � <br /> normal activities. D'Cl fi �� / fi�� <br /> Dillon h restooth Eleven Mlle Chessmen Jeckeon Barr Lake <br /> ® Avp. 3/31 COntsat■ ® 3/31/94 Content{ <br /> 3 <br />