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COLORADO <br /> - WATER SUPPLY CONDITIONS UPDATE <br /> FROM THE OFFICE OF THE STATE ENGINEER; DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES November, 1992 <br /> ROOM 818, 1313 SHERMAN Sr.,DENVER,CO 80203; (303)-866-3581 <br /> The beginning of the new water year saw stream flows below normal in most all areas of the state. Generally good reservoir <br /> storage and precipitation events assisted irrigators during the past summer. October precipitation was 67% of normal statewide. <br /> Snow has begun to accumulate and the Soil Conservation Service will begin to obtain snow course data at the end of November. <br /> Statewide reservoir storage was 105% of average on October 31. The Dolores and Animas River basins have the highest <br /> storage rate at 118% of normal while the Rio Grande basin has the lowest storage rate at 80% of normal. <br /> The National Weather Service 30 day forecast(November 1) is for above normal temperatures statewide, and near-to-below <br /> normal precipitation over all but the extreme southwestern corner of the state where above normal precipitation is forecast. The 90 <br /> day forecast (November 1) is for below normal temperatures over all but the extreme southwestern corner of the state and above <br /> 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 as <br /> an indicator of water supply conditions in the major river basins of the state. It is based on streamflow, reservoir storage, and <br /> precipitation for the summer period (May through October). During the summer period streamflow is the primary component in all <br /> basins except the South Platte basin where reservoir storage is given the most weight. The following SWSI values were computed <br /> for each of the seven basins on November 1, 1992 and reflect conditions during the month of October. <br /> November 1, 1992 Change From Change From <br /> Basin SWSI Value Previous Month Previous Year <br /> South Platte +1.8 -0.1 -0.1 <br /> Arkansas +0.5 -0.6 +0.9 <br /> Rio Grande +0.1 -0.9 +1.1 <br /> Gunnison -0.7 +1.1 -0.7 <br /> Colorado -2.5 -1.7 -1.8 <br /> Yampa/White -2.4 -1.6 -0.2 <br /> San Juan/Dolores -1.5 -3.4 0.0 <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 />