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COLORADO <br /> f WATER SUPPLY CONDITIONS UPDATE <br /> ROM THE OFFICE OF THE STATE ENGINEER; COLORADO DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES April 1996 <br /> ROOM 818,1313 SHERMAN ST.,DENVER,CO 80203; (303)-866-3581 <br /> This winter's trend of the northern and central mountains having above normal snowpack with the southern <br /> mountains having below normal amounts continued through March. The Natural Resources Conservation Service reports <br /> that statewide the snowpack averages 112%of normal on April 1. The South Platte basin has the highest snowpack at 147% <br /> of normal, and the Rio Grande basin has the lowest at 67% of normal. The SWSI values follow the snowpack trend. <br /> Reservoirs, currently storing approximately 142% of normal statewide, should carry well above average amounts of <br /> water into the summer season providing a supply of water to users who have access to reservoirs. 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. The first stream diversions for irrigation use typically begin in 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 April 1, 1996 and reflect conditions <br /> during the month of March. <br /> April 1, 1996 Change From Change From <br /> Basin SWSI Value Previous Month Previous Year <br /> South Platte +3.6 -0.2 +3.7 <br /> Arkansas +2.2 -0.2 +0.3 <br /> Rio Grande -1.2 +0.5 -4.4 <br /> Gunnison +2.8 +1.1 -0.1 <br /> Colorado +2.2 +0.3 +0.7 <br /> Yampa/White +3.4 +0.7 +4.1 <br /> San Juan/Dolores -1.9 -0.2 -4.5 <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 /> r <br /> 1 <br />