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t <br /> COLORADO <br /> WATER SUPPLY CONDITIONS UPDATE <br /> OM THE OFFICE OF THE STATE ENGINEER; COIARADO DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES April 1997 <br /> __OOM 818,1313 SHERMAN ST.,DENVER,CO 80203; (303)-866-3581 <br /> Indicators reveal that throughout the state water supply conditions are good. The Natural Resources Conservation <br /> Service reports a statewide average April 1 snowpack of 114%of normal. This is in spite of a decrease in percent of average <br /> snowpack in all seven of the state's major drainage basins during March. All SWSI values in the state show above normal <br /> water conditions. Stream flows and reservoir storage amounts are also optimistic. <br /> The Surface Water Supply Index (SWSI) developed by this office and the U.S.D.A. Natural Resources Conservation <br /> Service is used as an indicator of mountain based water supply conditions in the major river basins of the state. It is based <br /> on snow pack,reservoir storage,and precipitation for the winter period(November through April). During the winter period <br /> snow pack is the primary component in all basins except the South Platte basin where reservoir storage is given the most <br /> weight. The following SWSI values were computed for each of the seven major basins for April 1, 1997 and reflect conditions <br /> during the month of March. <br /> April 1, 1997 Change From Change From <br /> Basin SWSI Value Previous Month Previous Year <br /> South Platte 3.0 -0.2 -0.6 <br /> Arkansas 2.6 -0.7 +0.4 <br /> Rio Grande 2.9 -0.6 +4.1 <br /> Gunnison 3.6 -0.3 +0.8 <br /> Colorado 2.7 -0.8 +0.5 <br /> Yampa/White 3.2 -0.4 -0.2 <br /> San Juan/Dolores 2.9 -0.6 +4.8 <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 />