| 2/5/2009 9:55:00 AM | Email this article • Print this article | Snowpack remains above average
Colorado snowpack remained above average statewide during January 2009.
As of Feb. 1, the Arkansas River Basin had a snowpack of 122 percent of average. The South Platte had 103 percent of average, and the Rio Grande was 130 percent of average.
The latest snowpack surveys conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Natural Resources Conservation Service show all the major river basins in the state are above average.
Statewide, the total is 117 percent of average, a slight decrease from statistics a month ago. Readings are 90 percent of snowpack last year on the same date, state conservationist Allen Green said.
Mountain weather brought dry conditions across much of the state during early January, resulting in decreases in snowpack by the third week.
During the last week of January, a strong storm system brought snowfall to the state with the brunt of the storm being delivered to basins throughout northern Colorado.
By the end of January, northern basins experienced improved snowpack percentages over December while southern basins decreased slightly.
Although most of Colorado reports less snowpack than last year, totals are more consistent throughout the state with slightly above average amounts in northern Colorado, while moderating earlier extremely high snowpack percentages and worry about high water in southern basins.
Survey results offer encouraging news to in-state water users.
Assuming near average snowfall for the next two months, spring and summer water supplies are generally expected to be near to slightly above average this year.
About the only portion of the state remaining somewhat vulnerable to below average runoff is the Front Range where projections continue to call for slightly below average runoff in the South Platte Basin.
A wet April or May can improve that outlook in this portion of the state.
Reservoir storage remains good throughout most of the state.
Basinwide storage volumes range from 84 percent of average in the Rio Grande Basin, to 104 percent of average in the Yampa and Gunnison basins.
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