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COLORADO <br /> WATER SUPPLY CONDITIONS UPDATE <br /> ROM THE OFFICE OF THE STATE ENGINEER; COLORADO DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES March, 1998 <br /> :OOM 818,1313 SHERMAN ST.,DENVER,CO 80203; (303)-866-3581 <br /> The state's water supply conditions remain acceptable overall. Snowpack is below average at a statewide value of <br /> 87% of normal. The river basin with the highest average snowpack is the Arkansas at 99% of normal, and the basin with <br /> the lowest average is the San Juan/Dolores at 77%of normal. Stream flows and reservoir storage levels are generally quite <br /> good throughout 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 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 March 1, 1998 and reflect <br /> conditions during the month of February. <br /> March 1, 1998 Change From Change From <br /> Basin SWSI Value Previous Month Previous Year <br /> South Platte 2.1 -0.2 -1.1 <br /> Arkansas -0.8 -1.0 -4.1 <br /> Rio Grande -0.8 +0.2 -4.3 <br /> Gunnison -0.8 -0.5 -4.7 <br /> Colorado -0.3 -0.2 -3.8 <br /> Yampa/White -2.2 -0.1 -6.0 <br /> San Juan/Dolores -1.5 +0.2 -5.0 <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 />