Make no mistake the snowpack is coming off the mountains in a big rush this weekend. Click on the thumbnail graphic to the right for a current picture. Lots of red all over Colorado.
From the Summit Daily News (Robert Allen):
“Even though things are flowing impressively right now, the overall volume this summer season is still going to be below average,” said Mike Gillespie, snow survey supervisor with the National Resources Conservation Service. The Colorado Basin’s snowpack is 57 percent of average, but reservoir storage levels are averaging 114 percent of normal — which means water supply shortages aren’t expected in the foreseeable future. Snowfall through much of winter was well below normal, but the springtime brought along a few storms that lessened the impact. “It’s not going to be a great year for anyone, but it’s still not a disaster for anyone, either,” Gillespie said.
The Blue River below Dillon Reservoir and the Colorado River near Kremmling are both flowing at more than double the average over the previous 47 years, according to the U.S. Geological Survey at http://waterdata.usgs.gov But while the white stuff is melting early this spring, last year’s larger snowpack flowed out even more quickly; the remaining snowpack by June 1 this year was 185 percent of 2009. The Blue River below Dillon Reservoir is gushing at about 1,410 cubic feet per second. “Last year we saw it as high as 1,850,” Silverthorne public works director Bill Linfield said. “Usually our peak flows in the Lower Blue come in late June, even up to the Fourth of July.”
From the Cañon City Daily Record (Charlotte Burroughs):
[Arkansas River Outfitters owner Tony Keenan] noted the Arkansas River had hit its peak last week at 4,200 cubic feet per second, but recently dropped to 2,500 cfs. “June is the best time for the water level while July and August is the best time for weather,” Keenan said. At the same time, the voluntary management flow program keeps the level at 700 cfs at Wellsville for rafters during July and part of August. Compared to two years ago, “the water is pretty much at typical levels right now once you get the snow melt across the Arkansas River valley,” said National Weather Service metrologist Mike Nosko. “The flood stage is at 9 foot,” Nosko said. “We’re plenty below the flood stage.”
From The Pueblo Chieftain (Tracy Harmon):
The Arkansas River was expected to hit flood stage at midnight and high, fast flows are expected through Tuesday as rapid snowmelt continues across the high country due to record warm temperatures. The National Weather Service in Pueblo issued a flood warning Saturday, predicting the river would crest at 9.2 feet around midnight and remain high through Tuesday before falling below the flood stage of 9 feet in Canon City. The flooding was expected to be minor, as the river has to rise to 11 feet to be considered flowing at a moderate flooding stage…
The river was flowing at 4,060 cubic feet per second at 2 p.m. Saturday at Parkdale, 10 miles west of Canon City, where it had already crested at 4,200 cfs last Sunday. The 4,060 cubic feet per second at Parkdale equates to about an 8.71 foot level in Canon City.
From The Mountain Mail (Audrey Gilpin):
Rob White, Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area park manager, said the river peaked Sunday – Browns Canyon was running at 3,160 cubic feet per second and the Salida gauge recorded 3,130 cfs. A high water advisory for boaters was in effect for the Numbers and Royal Gorge Tuesday. Wednesday, Browns Canyon was running 2,430 cfs, Royal Gorge was at 3,150 cfs and the Numbers was at 1,900 Wednesday. River levels are coming down.
From the North Forty News (Cherry Sokoloski):
The [North Poudre Irrigation Company] appropriated one acre-foot of early water per share this year, the first time in several years, because of the good supply of water. The total NPIC appropriation this year is six acre-feet, including 2.9 acre-feet of multiple use water, 2.18 acre-feet of ag water and the early water appropriation.
As the area continues to recover from the long drought, soil moisture is finally being replenished. “It’s a lot better than we’ve had for a number of years,” Smith said. Some crops are benefitting from the spring moisture, notably hay and pasture grass. Howard Diehl, whose family has some acreage in dryland crops, said the cool, wet weather has been great for grass. Winter wheat has also benefited, he said…
Stream runoff this spring is predicted to be below normal, according to Brian Werner of Northern Water. Runoff on the Poudre River is projected to be 85 percent of average, with the Big Thompson at 80 percent. The Western Slope, which provides most of the Colorado-Big Thompson storage, is predicted to produce runoff that’s only 75 to 80 percent of average. On the plus side, Werner noted, reservoir storage is very good at present. Local storage is 35 percent above average, and C-BT reservoirs are 15 percent above average. Spring moisture is keeping pressure off the reservoirs, boding well for available water later in the season.
From the Estes Park News:
High water in Estes Park, particularly the Big Thompson River, due to runoff. Public Works and Fire Department are sand bagging near the Post Office to mitigate any higher water.
From the Boulder Daily Camera (Heath Urie):
[Boulder Creek] was flowing Friday at a rate of 120 cubic feet per second. After water begins spilling from Barker Reservoir, creek flows could increase to 320 to 420 cubic feet per second, according to city officials. Flooding is not expected to occur unless a thunderstorm takes place in or around Boulder Canyon, but the increased flow could make swimming and wading dangerous, the city said. Parents are encouraged to keep their children from swimming, wading or playing near the water’s edge.