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• <br /> COLORADO <br /> WATER SUPPLY CONDITIONS UPDATE <br /> FROM THE OFFICE OF THE STATE ENGINEER; DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES June, 1992 <br /> ROOM 818,1313 SHERMAN ST.,DENVER,CO 80203; (303)-866-3581 <br /> May saw a continued reduction in snowpack throughout the state. Below normal amounts at the beginning of May <br /> continued to decrease as low elevation snow disappeared leaving only high elevation snowpack. Statewide snowpack was <br /> only 25% of average on June 1. The Arkansas River basin has the highest amount at 56% of average while the Colorado <br /> River Basin has the lowest amount at 15% of average. As a result of the low snowpack the Soil Conservation Service is <br /> forecasting substantially below normal stream flows for most of the state this spring and summer. The runoff may occur <br /> early and be short. <br /> Precipitation on the west slope was much above normal during May, ranging up to nearly three times average in <br /> the southwestern portion of the state. The rains likely contributed to the decreasing the low elevation snowpack. <br /> Statewide reservoir storage was 107%of average on June 1. The Gunnison River basin and the southwest portion <br /> of the state have the highest storage rate at 124% of average while the Arkansas basin has the lowest storage rate at 88% <br /> of average. The near average to above average reservoir storage situation may contain the only bright spot in this season's <br /> water supply. Water users with storage will likely be drawing on their supplies this summer. <br /> The National Weather Service 30 day forecast (June 1) is for above normal precipitation over all but the extreme <br /> northern portion of the state with near normal temperatures statewide. The 90 day forecast (June 1) is the same as the 30 <br /> day forecast. <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 streamflow,reservoir storage, <br /> and precipitation for the summer period (May through October). During the summer period streamflow is the primary <br /> component in all basins except the South Platte basin where reservoir storage is given the most weight. The index reflects <br /> conditions during the month of May. The following SWSI values were computed for each of the seven basins on June 1 , <br /> 1992: <br /> June 1, 1992 Change From Change From <br /> Basin SWSI Value Previous Month Previous Year <br /> South Platte +1.4 +0.5 +0.7 <br /> Arkansas +1.2 +2.8 +0.8 <br /> Rio Grande -0.5 -0.5 -2.2 <br /> Gunnison +1.0 +2.3 -0.1 <br /> Colorado -0.4 +2.0 +0.2 <br /> Yampa/White -1.6 +2.0 +0.8 <br /> San Juan/Dolores -1.8 +2.3 +1.4 <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 />