Southeast Colorado Water Supply Outlook for May, 2014

As of June 1, the 2014 snowpack was still melting at the highest elevations, but was just about hone at the level of most official snow measurement sites.  According to the National Weather Service, the Arkansas Basin reported 132% of median snowpack, up from 99% of median a month ago and up from 86% of median a year ago.  The Rio Grande Basin reported just 39% of median snowpack, down from 50% of median a month ago, but up from 2% of median a year ago.

At the end of May overall reservoir storage was below average across southeast and south central Colorado.  Storage in the Arkansas Basin was at 63% of average overall, down from 67% of average a month ago, but higher than 50% of average a year ago.  In the Rio Grande Basin, storage was at 71% of average overall, up from 67% of average a month ago and higher than 40% of average a year ago.

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 Avg              Runoff Period

Arkansas River:
Granite                                 104                         April—Sept
Salida                                    107                         Same
Canon City                             95                         All Remaining: Same
Above Pueblo                        90

Chalk Creek:
Near Nathrop                      100

Grape Creek:
Near Westcliffe                      71

Huerfano River:
Near Redwing                        73

Cucharas River:
Near La Veta                          57

Purgatoire River:
Trinidad                                  69

These forecasts reflect natural flow only.  Actual observed flow will likely be affected by upstream water management