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COLORADO <br /> WATER SUPPLY CONDITIONS UPDATE <br /> m'QM'ME OFFICE OF THE STATE ENGINEER; COLORADO DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES May 1996 <br /> M 818,1313 SHERMAN ST.,DENVER,CO 80203; (303)-866-3581 <br /> The state is experiencing a wide diversity in water supply conditions. The northern and central mountains have well <br /> above normal snowpack while the southern mountains have significantly below normal amounts. The Natural Resources <br /> Conservation Service reports that statewide the snowpack averaged 110% of normal on May 1. The South Platte basin has <br /> the highest snowpack at 147% of normal, and the Rio Grande basin has the lowest at 46% of normal. The SWSI values <br /> follow the snowpack trend. <br /> Reservoirs,currently storing approximately 132%of normal statewide,should carry above average amounts of water <br /> into the summer season providing a supply of water to users who have access to reservoir water. In much of the state, last <br /> year's cool wet summer lessened the demand for reservoir water which increased the amounts carried over the winter into <br /> this spring. Nearly all areas of the state saw diversions for irrigation use occurring during April. <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 snowpack,reservoir storage,and precipitation for the winter period (November through April). During the winter period <br /> snowpack 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 May 1, 1996 and reflect conditions <br /> during the month of April. <br /> May 1, 1996 Change From Change From <br /> Basin SWSI Value Previous Month Previous Year <br /> South Platte +3.3 -0.3 +2.5 <br /> Arkansas +1.9 -0.3 -1.3 <br /> Rio Grande -2.2 -1.0 -5.6 <br /> Gunnison +1.7 -1.1 -1.9 <br /> Colorado +1.1 -1.1 -1.5 <br /> Yampa/White +1.8 -0.6 +2.2 <br /> San Juan/Dolores -2.0 -0.1 -4.2 <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 />