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COLORADO <br /> • WATER SUPPLY CONDITIONS UPDATE <br /> ROM WE OFFICE OF THE STATE ENGINEER; COLORADO DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES February 1997 <br /> ROOM 818,1313 SHERMAN ST.,DENVER,CO 80203; (303)-866.3581 <br /> The SWSI indicator is now 3.0 or greater for all seven major drainages in Colorado, indicating the current water <br /> supply conditions are well above average statewide. This is only the third month since the inception of SWSI in 1981 that <br /> all seven basins have been 3.0 or greater. The previous two instances occurred on January 1, 1984 and August 1, 1995. <br /> The high indicators are a result of the high snowpack throughout the state's mountains. Statewide the snowpack is 161% <br /> of average as reported by the Natural Resources Conservation Service. The Gunnison River basin has the highest snowpack <br /> at 179% of average, and the Arkansas River basin has the lowest at 145% of average. <br /> Because it supplies the spring and summer runoff,the build-up of winter snowpack is watched closely by water users, <br /> especially the agricultural community which diverts and consumes the vast majority of water in Colorado. While at this point <br /> the snowpack is very encouraging as far as prospects for the coming runoff, an abundant runoff is not yet guaranteed. <br /> According to the Natural Resources Conservation Service, typically 60% of the winter's snowpack has accumulated by <br /> February 1. Therefore,there is sufficient opportunity for the condition of the snowpack to change before the runoff begins. <br /> Winter storms will have to continue in order for the snowpack to be above average come May and June. <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 February 1, 1997 and reflect <br /> conditions during the month of January. <br /> Feb. 1, 1997 Change From Change From <br /> Basin SWSI Value Previous Month Previous Year <br /> South Platte 3.0 +0.4 -0.5 <br /> Arkansas 3.3 +0.4 +0.8 <br /> Rio Grande 3.1 +1.1 +5.1 <br /> Gunnison 3.8 +0.1 +3.0 <br /> Colorado 3.3 0.0 +0.9 <br /> Yampa/White 3.9 +0.8 +1.1 <br /> San Juan/Dolores 3.4 +1.1 +5.2 <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 />