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+F COLORADO WATER SUPPLY CONDITIONS UPDATE EOM THE OFFICE OF THE STATE ENGINEER; COLORADO DNISION OF WATER RESOURCES June 1996 OOM 818,1313 SHERMAN ST.,DENVER,CO 80203; (303)-866-3581 The mid to northern portions of Colorado's mountains are currently experiencing adequate to above normal water supply conditions. The winter's snowpack and May's stream flows in these areas are encouraging. The southern mountains on the other hand are experiencing severe shortages. The southern mountain's snowpack was well below average,and bulk of what snowpack there was melted in May creating a short and early runoff. Precipitation in the Rio Grande basin, Gunnison basin, and the Animas/Dolores/San Juan basins is also well below normal with May's amounts in the single digit percentiles. Water administrators feel the SWSI values computed for the southern basins do not reflect the actual dry conditions. The figures are high most likely due to the fact that what runoff there was occurred during May and was captured in the SWSI stream flow component. Next month's SWSI values are expected to drop significantly. Fortunately,reservoir storage continues to be above average throughout the state. Currently storing at approximately 131% of normal statewide, reservoirs should carry above average amounts of water into the summer season providing a supply of water to users who have access to reservoir water. In much of the state,last year's cool wet summer lessened the demand for reservoir water which increased the amounts carried over the winter into this spring. The Surface Water Supply Index (SWSI) developed by this office and the U.S.D.A. Natural Resources Conservation Service is used as an indicator of mountain based water supply conditions in the major river basins of the state. It is based on stream flow, reservoir storage, and precipitation for the summer period (May through October). During the summer period stream flow is the primary component in all basins except the South Platte basin where reservoir storage is given the most weight. The following SWSI values were computed for each of the seven major basins for June 1, 1996 and reflect conditions during the month of May. June 1, 1996 Change From Change From Basin SWSI Value Previous Month Previous Year South Platte +3.0 -0.3 -0.2 Arkansas +3.5 +1.6 +1.0 Rio Grande -0.1 +2.1 +1.3 Gunnison +2.8 +1.1 +1.2 Colorado +3.3 +2.2 +4.8 Yampa/White +2.8 +1.0 +5.1 San Juan/Dolores +0.2 +1.8 +1.7 SCALE -4 -3 -2 -1 0 +1 +2 +3 +4 Severe Moderate Near Normal Above Normal Abundant Drought Drought Supply Supply Supply 1