Water Supply Outlook from Pueblo National Weather Service

As of May 1 the 2014 snowpack was highly variable across the Arkansas Basin of Southeast Colorado, ranging from above average north of highway 50 to below average south of 50.  Across the Rio Grande Basin, the snowpack was below average across nearly the entire basin.

Specifically, the Arkansas Basin snowpack measured 99% of median overall which was down from 112% of median on April 1, but higher than 82% of median a year ago.  The snowpack across the basin was high variable, ranging from 112% of median over the headwaters portion of the basin, to just 75% of median in Cucharas and Huerfano watersheds.

At the end of April, overall reservoir storage was below average across southeast and south central Colorado.  Storage in the Arkansas Basin was at 67% of average overall, about the same as a month ago, and higher than 52% of average a year ago.  In the Rio Grande Basin, storage was at 67% of average overall, down from 73% of average a month ago and higher than 54% of average a year ago.

% of Average                     Runoff Period

Arkansas River
Granite                                 104                                         April-Sept
Salida                                    107                                         same
Canon City                           101                                         same
Above Pueblo                       90                                         same

Chalk Creek
Near Nathrop                     108                                         same

Grape Creek
Near Westcliffe                   54                                          same

Huerfano River
Near Redwing                     68                                          same

Cucharas River
Near La Veta                       57                                           same

Purgatoire River
Trinidad                               60                                          same

These forecasts reflect natural flow only.  Actual observed flow will likely be affected by upstream water management.  This outlook is based on recent observations of snowpack and assumes normal precipitation for the remainder of the snow season.  If the actual observed precipitation deviates from normal, then the actual observed runoff will likely be different than the forecasts in this outlook.  This is the 5th of 6 outlooks issued from January through June.  The next and final outlook for the 2014 runoff season will be issued in the first part of June.