Water Supply Outlook-NWS-Pueblo
Russ Baldwin | Apr 14, 2014 | Comments 0
As of April 1, the 2014 snowpack was below average across the Rio Grande Basin of south central Colorado. Across the Arkansas Basin of southeast Colorado, the snowpack was highly variable, ranging from above average north of highway 50 to below average south of the highway.
The Arkansas Basin snowpack measured 112% of median overall, up from 109% of median on March 1 and higher than 78% of median a year ago at the same time. All of the above average snowpack in the Arkansas Basin was located north of highway 50 while snowpack south of the highway was below to well below average. The Rio Grande snow pack measured 79% of median overall which was unchanged from March 1 and higher than 69% of median a year ago at the same time.
At the end of March, overall reservoir storage was below average across southeast and south central Colorado. Storage in the Rio Grande Basin was at 73% of average overall, up from 68% of average on March 1 and higher than 54% of average a year ago at the same time. In the Arkansas Basin, storage was at 67% of average overall, up from 60% of average on March 1 and higher than 55% of average a year ago at the same time.
For the Arkansas Basin, streamflow volumes for the upcoming runoff season are outlooked to range from above to below average. Following are the latest available streamflow forecasts for selected locations in the Arkansas Basin assuming normal precipitation during the remainder of the snow season:
LOCATION % OF AVERAGE RUNOFF PERIOD
ARKANSAS RIVER
Granite 107 APR-SEP
Salida 115 APR-SEP
Canon City 107 APR-SEP
Above Pueblo 105 APR-SEP
CHALK CREEK
Near Lathrop 119 APR-SEP
GRAPE CREEK
Near Westcliffe 79 APR-SEP
HUERFANO RIVER
Near Redwing 78 APR-SEP
CUCHARAS RIVER
Near La Veta 48 APR-SEP
PURGATOIRE RIVER
Trinidad 49 APR-SEP
These forecasts reflect natural flow only. Actual observed flow will likely be affected by upstream water management. This is the fourth of six outlooks issued from January through June. The next outlook for the 2014 runoff season will be issued during the first part of May. Users of this product are encouraged to contact the National Weather Service in Pueblo for continued updates on the water supply situation. Meteorological conditions could develop that would have a significant impact on water supply forecasts.
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