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COLORADO <br /> WATER SUPPLY CONDTITONS UPDATE <br /> FROM THE OFFICE OF THE STATE ENGINEER; DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES November, 1993 <br /> ROOM 818,1313 SHERMAN ST.,DENVER,CO 80203; (303)-866-3581 <br /> A review of the SWSI values for the completed 1993 water year show it to have been the best year for surface water <br /> supplies since approximately 1987. It appears this is due to a good snow pack last winter and a cooler and wetter than <br /> normal summer. While October starts a new water year when mountain snow pack begins to accumulate,the first snow pack <br /> measurement does not occur until December 1. <br /> Statewide reservoir storage was 118%of normal at the end of October,with the Rio Grande basin having the highest <br /> storage rate at 210% of normal. <br /> The National Weather Service reports precipitation during October as 135% of normal statewide. The weather <br /> service 30 day outlook as of November 1 is for below normal temperatures and slightly above normal precipitation statewide. <br /> Their 90 day outlook is also for below normal temperatures and above normal precipitation statewide. <br /> The Surface Water Supply Index (SWSI) developed by this office and the U.S.D.A. Soil Conservation Service is used <br /> as an indicator of water supply conditions in the major river basins of the state. It is based on stream flow,reservoir storage, <br /> and precipitation for the summer period (May through October). During the summer period stream flow is the primary <br /> component in all basins except the South Platte basin where reservoir storage is given the most weight. The following SWSI <br /> values were computed for each of the seven basins on November 1, 1993 and reflect conditions during the month of October. <br /> November 1, 1993 Change From Change From <br /> Basin SWSI Value Previous Month Previous Year <br /> South Platte +3.0 -0.3 +1.2 <br /> Arkansas +2.3 +0.1 +1.8 <br /> Rio Grande -0.3 -2.6 -0.4 <br /> Gunnison +1.0 0.0 +1.7 <br /> Colorado +2.1 +0.1 +4.6 <br /> Yampa/White +0.9 +0.3 +3.3 <br /> San Juan/Dolores -0.3 -2.2 +1.2 <br /> SCALE <br /> -4 -3 -2 -1 0 +1 +2 +3 +4 <br /> Severe Moderate Near Normal Above Normal Abundant <br /> Drought Drought Supply Supply Supply <br /> 1 <br />