DWR_4151892

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

SOUTH PLATTE BASIN
4 Basinwide Conditions Assessment:
The SWSI value of+1.8 indicates that for January the SOUTH PLATTE RIVER BASIN
asin water supplies were above normal. Reservoir storage, 5 Surface Water Supply °`" °'"
the key component in this basin in computing the SWSI value, 4_
was 109% of normal on January 31. Storage in the major " �; k
plains reservoirs, Julesburg, North Sterling, and Prewitt, 2_ 1' ;- -' T
,-r-
increased by 9,906 acre-feet during January and are at 76%of
W
capacity. Storage in the major upper basin reservoirs, i i L
Cheesman, Eleven Mile, Spinney, and Antero, decreased by D i ii I f• 1 ,4gm;
4,743 acre-feet and are at 88% of capacity. The Soil _t_ 1
Conservation Service reports January 31 snowpack at 93% of
normal. The mean daily flow of the South Platte River at the
Kersey gage was 821 cfs, as compared to the 1961-1993 3_
January average of 774 cfs. Flow at the Colorado/Nebraska -., ,
JAN65 JAN66 JAN97 JAN88 JAN69 JAN50 JAN91 JAN92 JAN93 JAN94
state line averaged 791 cfs. k,1DNTN/YEAR
Above normal January flows continued on both the
mainstem South Platte and most tributaries. These flows far
exceed demand and significant water is leaving the state. The
early part of the month saw very limited snowfall, with one
major snowfall occurring towards the end of the month. SOUTH PLATTE RIVER NB I.ERSEY
FLOW BY WATER YEAR
45D
Administrative/Management Concerns 400 /
Primary diversions continue to be for storage and 350 /
municipal purposes, and for recharge in the reach below I /'
u
Denver. In general, the mild January weather provided for 3D0 _
open conditions along the South Platte which is allowing ,
o n
D 25D Q'�
diversions. This contrasts to many years when ditch icing •I? 2DD — —____,
- 'ould have prevented such diversions. Some reservoirs haveIE150-
een filled, others have limited diversions to prevent potential �'" �—
—
icing problems. Water Commissioners continued finalizing 00 ❑/i,—,
records for water year 1993. This process will be finished in
early February. D
Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb March
MONTH
Public Use Impacts ❑ WET(1983) J OHS[1964) 6 AVG lc994
The Water Court issued a Memorandum of Decision
on the reserved rights application of the United States for
Rocky Mountain National Park. In contrast to his ruling on
the reserved rights for the Forest Service, the judge ruled that REPRESENTATIVE RESERVOIRS
reserved rights to maintain river flows do exist for the 220 SOUTH PLATTE BASIN SUPPLY
national park. 200 2,/
r 160�2 f�\
o lap
°a /
120 \
ib BO-^60 '/\ //A
/A/ \
40
AN
Di Ion Horsetooth EIoven MI la Chessmen Jack con Barr Lek
11J Avg 1/31 canton. I\v 1/31/94 Contents
3