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COLORADO <br /> WATER SUPPLY CONDITIONS UPDATE <br /> ROM THE OFFICE OF THE STATE ENGINEER; COLORADO DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES December 1995 <br /> OOM 818,1313 SHERMAN ST.,DENVER,CO 80203; (303)-866-3581 <br /> November was a relatively dry month in the state. The National Weather Service reports that statewide precipitation <br /> averaged 78%of normal during the month. The winter's first snowpack measurement, conducted by the Natural Resources <br /> Conservation Service on December 1, produced a statewide snowpack value of 97% of average. Much below average <br /> snowpack was measured in the Rio Grande basin and southwest corner of Colorado,below average snowpack continued into <br /> the Gunnison drainage, and above average snowpack existed in the remainder of the mountain areas. Reservoir storage <br /> remains good, with all basins averaging above normal storage amounts, and a few averaging well above normal. <br /> The major component in calculating the SWSI changed on December 1 from stream flow to snowpack. The low <br /> snowpack in the southern portion of the state is reflected in a drop in SWSI values in that area as compared to last month's <br /> values. <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 December 1, 1995 and reflect <br /> conditions during the month of November. <br /> December 1, 1995 Change From Change From <br /> Basin SWSI Value Previous Month Previous Year <br /> South Platte +2.9 -0.4 +2.9 <br /> Arkansas +0.8 -1.9 -1.3 <br /> Rio Grande -3.7 -4.3 -6.8 <br /> Gunnison -2.8 -5.8 -5.1 <br /> Colorado +2.3 -0.2 +1.4 <br /> Yampa/White +1.7 -0.9 +0.9 <br /> San Juan/Dolores -3.2 -3.3 -6.5 <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 /> 1 <br />