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t <br /> COLORADO <br /> WATER SUPPLY CONDITIONS UPDATE <br /> M THE OFFICE OF THE STATE ENGINEER; COLORADO DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES August 1996 <br /> 818,1313 SHERMAN ST.,DENVER,CO 80203; (303)-866-3581 <br /> The north-south variation in water supply conditions continues in Colorado with the northern mountains <br /> experiencing better conditions than the southern mountains. The SWSI value in the Arkansas, Gunnison,and Colorado river <br /> basins dropped measurable from last month which may indicate the dry conditions may be moving northward. A drop in <br /> July's stream flow in these three basins,other than that due to the normal cessation of snowpack runoff which ended in June, <br /> is the primary cause of this drop in the SWSI. <br /> Administrators in the South Platte, Arkansas, Gunnison, Colorado, and Animas/La Plata basins all report that <br /> reservoir supplies are being utilized and are providing a much needed source of supply to those who have access to stored <br /> water. Reservoir storage is well below normal in the southwestern corner of the state. <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 stream flow, reservoir storage, and precipitation for the summer period (May through October). During the summer <br /> period stream flow is the primary component in all basins except the South Platte basin where reservoir storage is given the <br /> most weight. The following SWSI values were computed for each of the seven major basins for August 1, 1996 and reflect <br /> conditions during the month of July. <br /> August 1, 1996 Change From Change From <br /> Basin SWSI Value Previous Month Previous Year <br /> South Platte +2.6 -0.6 -0.8 <br /> Arkansas +0.8 -2.0 -2.7 <br /> Rio Grande -2.5 +0.3 -6.0 <br /> Gunnison -0.6 -1.5 -3.6 <br /> Colorado -0.9 -2.7 -4.4 <br /> Yampa/White +1.0 0.0 -2.7 <br /> Animas/La Plata -2.6 +0.2 -6.1 <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 />