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�w Co1oge <br /> ROY ROMER N JERIS A. DANIELSON <br /> Governor * /_I -, * State Engineer <br /> -18 7�'i <br /> OFFICE OF THE STATE ENGINEER <br /> DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES <br /> 1313 Sherman Street-Room 818 <br /> Denver, Colorado 80203 <br /> (303) 866-3581 <br /> COLORADO WATER SUPPLY CONDITIONS UPDATE <br /> May 15, 1990 <br /> • <br /> Colorado's water supply forecasts for 1990 remain below average nearly <br /> statewide. Although precipitation for the state for the month of April was <br /> significantly above average, most of this was received at lower elevations. <br /> This helped improve soil moisture conditions but will have limited effect on <br /> spring runoff. Reservoir storage will be drawn down to low levels by late <br /> summer if precipitation is less than normal . <br /> Precipitation for the month of April averaged 177% of average statewide <br /> with a high of 264% of average in the Rio Grande basin and a low of 82% of <br /> average in the South Platte basin. Snowpack measured on May 1 was only 68% of <br /> average. Snowpack is lowest in the San Juan/Dolores basin at 59% of average <br /> and highest in the South Platte basin at 96% of average. Although current <br /> snowpack conditions are below average, they are 135% of the May 1989 snowpack <br /> conditions. Yet streamflow forecasts across Colorado remain below average for <br /> this year. The lowest forecasts are in the Dolores, San Miguel , Animas, <br /> Uncompaghre, and San Juan River basins. These drainages are forecast to <br /> provide less than 50% of their average runoff. Conditions are best in the <br /> South Platte basin where runoff is forecast to be 95% of normal . <br /> The attached report includes updates of the Surface Water Supply Index <br /> (SWSI) addressing the relative availability of water resources supplies in <br /> each of the seven major drainage basins in the state. The winter SWSI values <br /> (December 1 - May 1) are computed utilizing basin weighted factors of <br /> snowpack, precipitation, and reservoir storage. This index indicates that <br /> water supply conditions have improved significantly from April 1 in the <br /> Arkansas, Rio Grande, Gunnison and San Juan/Dolores basins. Only the <br /> Yampa/White basin remains under a drought classification. A brief description <br /> of the water supply conditions in each basin is provided. <br /> Contact John Kaliszewski at (303) 866-3581 if you have any comments or <br /> questions. <br />