The January snowpack forecasts from the Natural Resources Conservation Service hit the streets on Friday.
The Colorado Basin Outlook Reports predict below average runoff in the Gunnison, Colorado, Yampa, White, North Platte and Laramie basins while, “All in all, the water situation on the South Platte is setting up well, being near average on all fronts on the first of January,” according to the report.
“Streamflow forecasts on the Arkansas are near average at this point falling in between 90 – 107% of average for the 50% exceedance level. The Grape Creek near Westcliffe, CO forecast point is tied for the best outlook in the state, so far. It is still early in the forecast season, and from this point, on average, there is still 60% of this year’s snowpack left to accumulate,” the report says.
Rio Grande Basin irrigators can expect, “slightly below average with most forecasts falling near 90% of average.”
For the San Miguel, Dolores, Animas and San Juan River Basins the report says, “The basin should see below average runoff during the spring and summer throughout the basin. April-July forecasts range from 80 percent of average for the La Plata River at Hesperus to 99 percent of average for the Navajo River at the Oso Diversion.”
We still have a lot of winter to go. April 1 is the big day to look at snowpack and streamflow forecasts.