Here’s the release from Governor Hickenlooper’s office:

Gov. John Hickenlooper submitted today the Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) Partial Action Plan to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The State must submit the Partial Action Plan before receiving the $62.8 million in CDBG-DR Funds that HUD allocated to flood impacted communities in Colorado. The money will go toward needs not addressed through other sources of federal assistance, such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

“We are submitting our action plan 30 days in advance of our deadline in an effort to expedite the money coming to Colorado,” Hickenlooper said. “The CDBG-DR funds are critical to the recovery effort. Our Action Plan will allow homeowners, businesses and communities to prioritize their unmet needs and apply to the State based on those community priorities.”

Colorado’s CDBG-DR Partial Action Plan provides for grant and loan programs that will be available to flood impacted communities in housing, infrastructure and economic development. The initial allocation of the $62.8 million was announced during a December 2013 visit to Colorado from HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan.

In a letter to Donovan, Hickenlooper thanked him and the Colorado Congressional Delegation for their “partnership and leadership” in bringing these important disaster recovery funds to Colorado. Hickenlooper acknowledged in the letter the public’s valuable feedback incorporated into the Partial Action Plan, “Coloradans are resilient and their commitment to building back stronger and better is reflected in this Action Plan.”

HUD requires that 50 percent of the CDBG-DR funds benefit low- to moderate-income households and that 80 percent of the funds be distributed in Boulder, Larimer and Weld counties. The remaining 20 percent can be distributed among the other 11 counties in the September Presidential Declaration.
HUD has up to 45 days to approve Colorado’s Initial Partial Action Plan, making funds available sometime in April. The Partial Action Plan, eligibility requirements and the application process for these funds can be found online at http://dola.colorado.gov/cdbg-dr.

From The Pueblo Chieftain (Chris Woodka):

Despite recent moisture, Southern Colorado still is struggling with the impacts of prolonged drought. Clouds of dust continue to roll across the prairies, bringing piles of tumbleweeds with them. Miles of roads are lined with the weeds and sometimes clogged by them.

“We’ve had 45 miles of roads impacted by tumbleweeds, and have even had to keep some closed when they became impassable,” said Crowley County Commissioner Frank Grant.

Crowley County has spent at least $75,000, used snowplows and purchased a forage chopper to clear roads since late October when the tumbleweeds began appearing.

“It’s a lot like herding balloons. You push them off, and they keep coming back,” Grant said. “Pueblo County road crews have been hitting it hard, too.”

Area soil conservation districts have applied for grants to purchase equipment. Canal companies are dealing with miles of tumbleweeds plugging up ditches in prepara­tion for water that will begin flowing in less than a month. And some homeowners in rural areas have had trouble reaching or leaving their homes.

“Every time the wind blows, you see them pile up,” said J.D. Wright, who lives in eastern Pueblo County on the Crowley County line about 15 miles north of Colorado 96. “This is a very serious situation. It’s nobody’s fault, just a matter of dealing with the tumbleweeds.”

The weeds have damaged rangeland because they break off more beneficial grasses as they roll across the ground.

“The sandhills in the Hanover-Boone area that have been stable for the last 50 years are beginning to blow,” Wright said.

From Steamboat Today (Tom Ross):

After 3.1 inches of fresh snow was recorded in town Thursday morning, the snowfall total for October 2013 through February to date was 165.6 inches, according to the regional climate center of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. That compares to the full-season average (1981 through 2011) of 169.7 inches. And there’s likely more on the way…

Season-long snowfall in town always is significantly lower than it is at midmountain at Steamboat Ski Area. And this winter is no different, with the ski area reporting 279 inches for the season thus far…

Monthly snowfall in the city of Steamboat consistently has been above average this fall and winter, with 16.8 inches in October, 27.9 inches in November, 38.3 inches in December, 52.2 inches in January and 30.4 inches as of Thursday for February.

Click here to read the analysis from NOAA. Here’s an excerpt:

Global Highlights

The combined average temperature over global land and ocean surfaces for January was the warmest since 2007 and the fourth warmest on record at 12.7°C (54.8°F), or 0.65°C (1.17°F) above the 20th century average of 12.0°C (53.6°F). The margin of error associated with this temperature is ± 0.08°C (± 0.14°F).

The global land temperature was the highest since 2007 and the fourth highest on record for January, at 1.17°C (2.11°F) above the 20th century average of 2.8°C (37.0°F). The margin of error is ± 0.18°C (± 0.32°F).

For the ocean, the January global sea surface temperature was 0.46°C (0.83°F) above the 20th century average of 15.8°C (60.5°F), the highest since 2010 and seventh highest on record for January. The margin of error is ± 0.04°C (± 0.07°F).

Click here to read the current assessment. Click here to go to the NIDIS website hosted by the Colorado Climate Center.

Click here to go to the Climate Prediction Center Website. Click here to go to the US Drought Monitor website. Here’s an excerpt:

Summary

During the past week, a persistent pattern of ridging (high pressure) over the Southwest and troughing (low pressure) over the East prevailed. Unfortunately, the ample moisture that finally visited drought-ravaged California (especially north-central sections) last week was shunted northward by the southwestern ridge into the Pacific Northwest this period, dumping widespread precipitation totals of 4-8 inches, locally 12-18 inches, from extreme northwestern California into western Washington. Additionally, the precipitation was accompanied by mild air, producing mainly rain instead of snow in southern sections of the Cascades in Oregon and limiting any snow pack increase for those mountains. Farther north, however, the precipitation fell as snow in the northern Cascades (Washington) and northern Rockies, increasing the average basin SNOTEL snow water content by 10-20 percentage points in six days (from Feb. 12 to 18). Farther east, a series of winter storms brought wintry precipitation to the Midwest (light to moderate snow), Southeast (severe icing in Georgia and South Carolina), and the Northeast (heavy snow) as cold air remained entrenched in those regions. In contrast, dry and mild weather continued in the southwestern quarter of the Nation, further degrading conditions there. In Hawaii, scattered showers continued, with Kauai and Oahu receiving the greatest totals, while Puerto Rico and most of Alaska saw light precipitation, except for moderate amounts (more than 2 inches) in the southeastern Alaskan Panhandle…

Southern and Central Plains

Mostly dry weather and a west to east warming trend occurred in the central and southern Plains, with precipitation (0.2-0.8 inches) limited to eastern Texas. With significant precipitation (0.5-1 inch liquid equivalent) falling the past 30 days across the central Plains, plus relatively low normal precipitation amounts for this time of year, no changes were made in the central Plains. Farther south, however, growing short-term dryness interlaced with long-term drought (out to 2 years) led to a slight degradation of conditions in Texas, particularly in south-central and southeastern, sections and in the northern Panhandle. Similarly, D0 was slightly expanded eastward in southeastern and central Oklahoma where the 30-day precipitation missed…

Southwest

The Water Year to Date (WYTD; since October 1) continued to be dismal as little to no precipitation and unseasonable warmth (temperatures averaging 8 to 12oF above normal, highs in the 70’s and 80’s) were observed this week. With the exception of copious and flooding rains back in early to mid-September, especially in New Mexico and Colorado, most southwestern locations have measured well below normal precipitation since then. The few exceptions to this were small WYTD surpluses in southwestern and northeastern Arizona, northern New Mexico, and most of western and central Colorado, the latter state faring the best this season. Elsewhere, WYTD SNOTEL basin average precipitation ranged from 50-63% of normal in central Arizona, 30-46% in southern New Mexico, 52-73% in northern New Mexico, 51-90% in southern Utah, and 81-102% in southern Colorado. Values generally rose to above normal in more northward basins. The Feb. 18 basin average snow water content ranged from 0-83% in central Arizona, 10-19% in southern New Mexico, 8-60% in northern New Mexico, and close to normal in southern sections of Utah and Colorado. With such poor values, a 1-category degradation was made in southwestern Arizona (D0 expanded); southern Nevada (D1 expanded, only 0.05” of precipitation at Las Vegas McCarron Airport since Dec. 1 and non-irrigated, drought-tolerant landscaping plants starting to dry out); D2 expansion across central and southern Arizona and into western New Mexico; D3 development in southeastern Arizona (where 6-month totals less than 50%); and slight D2 and D3 increases in central New Mexico – after their driest January on record. As of Feb. 1, average state reservoir capacities were 23% (normal=44%) for New Mexico and 13% (normal=47%) for Nevada. Colorado and Utah were close to normal, and Arizona data was unavailable (on Jan. 1, 44% vs normal=51%)…

The West

Unfortunately, last week’s overdue and welcome moisture was short-lived for most of California as the weather pattern shifted and brought moderate to heavy precipitation (4 to 8 inches, locally 12-18 inches) northward to the Pacific Northwest. Extreme northern California did benefit from this week’s moisture, including Del Norte County in extreme northwestern California, where 10-15 inches of precipitation fell as the Smith River rose 20 feet and passed monitoring stage, and has since receded to a flow 6 feet higher than before the rain started. In addition, along coastal Oregon and Washington and in the Cascades, widespread heavy precipitation was enough to make a general 1-category improvement in the drought, especially since the dryness was more short-term than compared to California’s multi-year drought. Unfortunately, the moisture was accompanied by mild air, and most of the precipitation that fell on the southern Cascades was rain and not snow. As a result, southern Oregon’s basin average snow water content remained low, between 30-39% of normal on Feb. 18, and no changes were made here. Farther north, however, temperatures were lower, and much of the precipitation fell as snow in the higher elevations. In northern Oregon, the average basin snow water contents for the central Cascades increased to 51-63% of normal, while the northern Cascades in Washington rose to between 71-87% of normal. Short and medium-term deficits, however, still remain, and additional moisture will be needed to bring the WYTD precipitation to normal. Weekly totals (about an inch) were lower in northeastern Washington, and the D2 area remained. Additional moderate to heavy snows fell on the northern and central Rockies, boosting WYTD average basin precipitation and Feb. 18 snow water contents to near or above normal, justifying a 1-category improvement where the heaviest precipitation fell and deficits were greatly reduced.

In contrast, southern California missed out on both week’s precipitation while unseasonable warmth persisted, further degrading conditions similar to the Southwest. With WYTD precipitation running at a meager 10-30% of normal across coastal southern California and deficits of 4-12 inches the past 6-months, D3 was extended southward into the San Diego area, and D4 was expanded southward into Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties. In Santa Barbara County, Lake Cachuma, currently at 39% capacity and 90% of the water supply for the cities of Santa Barbara and Goleta, the water level is nearing the lowest intake on the outlet works. To remedy this, the water district is working on installing a floating barge and pipes to get lake water to the outlet portal. The city is also contemplating the re-establishment of a desalination plant built in the late 1980s that was shut down in the early 1990s. And the Twitchell Reservoir, along the Santa Barbara/San Luis Obispo County line, is at less than 1% capacity. Ranchers are reducing their herds due to the lack of water and food sources. As of Feb. 18, the Sierra Nevada basin average snow water content ranged from 32 to 53% of normal. Widespread heavy precipitation is badly needed in this state as the normal wet season nears its end by early to mid-spring (e.g. in April)…

Looking Ahead

During February 20-24, a drier weather pattern is expected for the Northwest, while significant precipitation is expected across the eastern half of the Nation, particularly in the Midwest, Southeast, and New England. Unfortunately, dry weather should persist across the southwestern quarter of the U.S., including California, Nevada, Arizona, and New Mexico, and most of Texas. Temperatures will also average above normal for much of the lower 48 States, except for another blast of Arctic air entering the northern Rockies and Plains and upper Midwest later in the period.

For the ensuing 5-day period, February 25-March 1, the odds favor subnormal readings east of the Rockies and above-normal temperatures in the Southwest. Chances are favorable for above-median precipitation in the West, especially along the California-Oregon border and northern Sierra Nevada. To the east, precipitation is likely along the Gulf Coast States. In contrast, the odds for below median precipitation are forecast for the southern Rockies northeastward into the northern Plains, upper Midwest, and Great Lakes region, with slight chances of below-median precipitation in the Northeast.

Here’s a primer of sorts about El Nińo and the possible effect on Colorado weather from Matt Makens writing for Weather5280.com. Click through and read the whole post and check out the great graphics. Here’s an excerpt:

The fact is, where we live, an El Niño or La Niña pattern doesn’t change our temperatures or moisture outlook. It may shift where heavier precipitation will fall, but it doesn’t do much for the state as a whole. There are seasonal changes for some regions that can be of benefit/detriment, but the scale of a year and only looking at the state yields little excitement.

In general terms, the ENSO (El Niño Southern Oscillation) is yet another ocean-atmosphere connection that affects the storm track and speed over Colorado. During La Niña (as in this winter) heavier snows hit the northwestern mountains and more frequent cold snaps occur for the plains with periods of strong wind. However, in El Niño the heavier snowfall shifts to the southwestern mountains and the temperatures remain a bit warmer…

Notice how there isn’t a correlation between ENSO and Colorado’s temperatures and precipitation? I did a quick analysis for Denver and there are not any correlation there either. Just because the headlines tout a change on the way and you may want to throw an El Niño welcome party, there’s little to get worked up about here in Colorado from the state’s perspective. Okay, yes if you are in the southwestern mountains and wanting a good winter snowfall you want El Niño, but don’t get your hopes up too soon, the El Niño indicator is a weak one and may not hold on for next winter…

We are in a long lasting drought (most severe over the southeast), and what the entire state needs right now is moisture. Aside from the singular flooding event for northern Colorado back in September, we too would still be in a drought. The state’s agricultural community needs a multi-decadal pattern switch that simply the ENSO pattern itself can’t fix. However, a quick transition from La Niña to El Niño this spring and early summer would be nice…in that change, climatologically the southeastern plains have the best chance for above normal precipitation. However, a bigger pattern change with El Niñ0 and other factors coming together is what it will take to make major state climate changes.

There are so many more important influencing factors from other patterns, like MJO, AMO, and PDO that do have a direct correlation to our hotter/drier versus cooler/wetter patterns.

Mage at the NRCS has been busy. Click on a thumbnail to view the gallery of graphics.

From The Pueblo Chieftain (Chris Woodka):

A better water supply outlook should make more water available for Arkansas Valley farmers this year, but the details still are being worked out. The Pueblo Board of Water Works, which generally leases the most water on the spot market, heard a favorable snowpack report Tuesday, but still is weighing its options.

“We will be looking at those options in the next 30 days,” said Terry Book, executive director of the Pueblo water board.

Specifically, the water board wants to find out how many of those who have asked for long-term contracts (more than one year) are serious. That will determine how much of this year’s pool of water could be leased, said Alan Ward, water resources manager.

Pueblo’s water supply should be ample this year because snowpack is expected to easily reach average peak levels this year. Right now, snowpack in the Arkansas River basin is 110 percent of median, and 182 percent of last year. In the Colorado River basin, from which much of Pueblo’s water is imported, levels are at 131 percent of median. Even better news, for Pueblo at least, is that in the headwaters of the Arkansas River and in the Upper Colorado snow levels are at 150 percent of average.

“It’s looking good for us, as well as for the Fryingpan-Arkansas Project,” Ward said.

Snowpack in the southern mountains which feed the Purgatoire River and Rio Grande are much lower, as recent storms have tracked mainly through the northern part of the state.

The water board typically leased 10,000-20,000 acre-feet of water on the spot market, but held off in 2013 because of continuing drought conditions. The long-term contracts are typically more than three times the rate for the spot market and provide more certainty of revenue for the water board. The downside is that when water is not available, long-term contracts might have to be suspended. The water board had nearly 37,000 acre-feet of water in storage at the end of January, up by about 10,000 acre-feet from last year at the same time.

From the Summit Business Journal (Robin Smith):

Shades of 2008 and 1980’s Big Wednesday – for once, weather forecasts corresponded with the snow amount smothering Aspen/Snowmass residents’ walkways and balconies, as over 30 inches accumulated in the last two days [January 29-30].

The initial 15-30 inch prediction was originally viewed as a jinx against any significant snowfall, particularly when Thursday morning dawned with only 2-6 inches on the slopes. However, the storm hunkered down and by twilight, 15 inches were verified. Out came the shovels and snow blowers – and out they came again today, as another 18 inches greeted the sunrise.

Roaring Fork Watershed snowpack is at 128% of normal today. http://t.co/SHGQwMyo7K

— RoaringFkConservancy (@rfconservancy) February 18, 2014

A full rainbow of color continues across the West. One side of the Divide is darn dry. The east is wet and snowy. pic.twitter.com/4NPK1jvNr3

— Luke Runyon (@LukeRunyon) February 13, 2014

US House votes to reauthorize national drought information system (via @westgov) http://t.co/4ug65pYWk5

— Water Law (@waterlaws) February 14, 2014

From the Salida Citizen (Christopher Kolomitz):

We all know that during the past two weeks a pineapple express of moisture has been slamming into the Rockies and it has done magical things to the snowpack, especially compared to the past two years. But as our memories fade, one winter blends into the next and it’s hard to recall specifics. Luckily, a series of weather stations in the Colorado mountains record climate data.

By looking at that data which goes back to 1979, we can determine what level of “epicness” the past two weeks puts us on. And, it appears we are on track with the legendary winters of the early 1980s, the snowy mid-90s and a much needed wet year of 2008. We seem to be a little ahead of the big year of 2011…

Here in the Arkansas Basin we sit at 115 percent of average snowpack. Nine different SNOWTEL stations are in the basin and seven are used to figure that percentage. Of the nine, Brumley, Fremont Pass, St. Elmo and Porphyry Creek are especially important for us in the Upper Arkansas Valley because the other six (Apishapa, Glen Cove, Hayden Pass, South Colony and Whiskey Creek) are located in drainages below and southeast of Salida. Because the St. Elmo and Hayden Pass sites were installed in 2007, they are not used when developing historical averages.

On Feb. 12, I looked at the SWE for Fremont Pass and Porphyry Creek, which is at Monarch Pass, just west of the summit in Gunnison County. Yes, it’s technically on the Western Slope but it is being used to calculate Arkansas Basin figures because of its strategic location. And, because most of us want to compare the skiing, I dialed a little more into the numbers at this site.

Monarch has been blasted since the early part of the month and the ski area is reporting 11 feet in the past two weeks. As of Feb. 12 the SWE at Brumley was at 15 inches, so I compared that with the historical SNOTEL data.

In the last 14 years only once (2008) has it been that depth at this point in the season. During the past 35 years 15 inches of SWE this early has been reached only four times – 1984, 1996, 1997 and 2008.

In 10 winters (1980, 82, 84, 86, 93, 96, 97, 2005 and 08) the 15 inch SWE mark was achieved by the end of February. On the flip side, another 10 winters (1981, 89, 90, 91, 99, 2000, 04, 07, 12 and 13) failed to reach the 15 inches of SWE at all.

In 2011 when it seemed as if it would never stop snowing in the spring, Porphyry reached 15 inches of SWE on March 1. It hit 18.2 inches in April that year and then maxed out at 19.7 in May.

Since 1979 the highest SWE for Porphyry was in May of 1984 when it reached 27.4 inches. The 15 inches of SWE was eclipsed in early January that year.

In the winter of 1995 the site reached SWE levels equal with this year on March 10. That year the maximum SWE was 24 inches. A year after, in 1996, 15 inches of SWE was hit Feb. 2.

Further north on Fremont Pass, at the headwaters of the Arkansas, the SNOWTEL site Feb. 12 was measuring 13.3 inches of SWE and a depth of snow of 64 inches. The winters of 1996, 2006 and 2011 all had SWE greater and sooner. In 1996, the SWE reached today’s levels on Jan. 25 and by May it was above 27 inches.

Looking at the most recent winters of 2011-2013, it’s clear that at Fremont Pass, things are in much better shape than the past few years. Last year the SWE didn’t reach current levels until April 5, although it maxed out later in May at 19.1 inches and helped save runoff.

Drought in 2012 was evident when the SWE made it only to 12.4 inches for the entire year. But, the snowy year of 2011 was better than all when the SWE passed today’s levels on Jan. 31 and reached 26.7 inches May 5.

From the Pagosa Sun (Shanti Johnson):

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) designated Archuleta County, along with fifteen other counties spanning the Colorado and New Mexico border, as contiguous disaster counties on Feb. 5. The USDA’s declaration came in response to losses suffered by farmers and ranchers in the area due to recent drought conditions.

According to a letter from USDA Secretary Thomas Vilsack, sent to New Mexico Governor Susan Martinez and copied to Archuleta County, the declaration makes farm operators “eligible to be considered for certain assistance from the Farm Service Agency (FSA), provided eligibility requirements are met. This assistance includes FSA emergency loans.”

Farmers have eight months from the date of the declaration, Feb. 5, to apply for an emergency loan. According to the USDA website, the FSA will consider each loan application based on its own merits, and will take into account the extent of losses, security available and repayment ability.

Further information on the FSA’s emergency loans program, and on additional programs available to assist farmers and ranchers in the affected areas, can be found at http://www.fsa.usda.gov, or by contacting the local service center located at 505A County Road 600, Pagosa Springs, 731-3615.

Click here to go to the website. Here’s the pitch:

Governor John Hickenlooper and the Colorado Agricultural Leadership Program, in conjunction with the Colorado Department of Agriculture and Colorado State University are proud to present the 23rd annual Governor’s Forum on Colorado Agriculture.

Colorado’s Agricultural Leadership Program is focused on developing Colorado’s future agricultural leaders. We will explore relevant industry issues and provide insight into potential outcomes and solutions to help ensure the future success of Colorado’s agricultural industry.

Our program, “Farm to Table: What Do Consumers Really Want?” seeks to engage Forum participants in a way that has never been done before. The program consists of direct participant engagement while hearing from leading industry sectors on how to best meet the demands of a changing consumer demographic.

The 2014 Governor’s Forum on Colorado Agriculture will be presented on Thursday, February 27th at the Renaissance Denver Hotel, 3801 Quebec St, Denver, CO. Sponsors are also invited to a pre-forum reception Wednesday, February 26th at 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm at the historic Governor’s Residence located at the Southwest corner of 8th Avenue and Logan Street, Denver, CO.

Here’s the release via The Mountain Mail:

The 2014 Governor’s Forum on Colorado Agriculture, highlighting emerging trends in Colorado agriculture, will take place Feb. 27 at the Renaissance Hotel in Denver.

Themed “Farm to Table: What Do Consumers Really Want,” the forum will include speakers from all facets of Colorado agriculture, including produce growers, dairy producers and climatologists.

“Colorado farmers and ranchers provide high-quality, diverse products that help drive the state’s economy,” Gov. John Hickenlooper said. “This forum will help connect producers and consumers and encourage an ongoing dialogue about our state’s agricultural strengths and Coloradans’ food preferences.”

“We’re approaching the entire event from the nexus of interest between consumers and producers,” said John Salazar, Colorado commissioner of agriculture. “Consumers and producers both care about having quality food and a vibrant state economy, two themes that run throughout the entire forum.”

Director Keith Schneller of the U.S. Agricultural Trade Office in Shanghai, China, will deliver the keynote address. Since he arrived in China in 2003, U.S. agricultural exports to China have increased from $6 billion per year to more than $28 billion in 2012. Schneller will talk about the rapid changes taking place in China, especially as the Internet becomes a powerful tool influencing decisions made by hundreds of millions of Chinese consumers.

The forum will be hosted by the Colorado Agricultural Leadership Program (CALP), the Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA), and Colorado State University.

CALP is a leadership training group that exposes emerging leaders in Colorado agriculture to the diverse aspects of the state’s farm economy. The program was re-instated last year under the leadership of Salazar and state Rep. Jerry Sonnenberg after several years of inactivity.

“The ‘farm-to-table’ concept has become popular over the past several years, so I’m glad we’re taking the opportunity to weigh in on the conversation,” said Bob Mattive, CALP fellow and potato farmer in the San Luis Valley. “I think that we have a strong agenda that will foster an ongoing conversation about Colorado’s agricultural future.”
For more information, visit governorsagforum.com or contact Angie Cue at angie@coloagleaders.org.

From The Grand Junction Daily Sentinel (Greg Ruland):

Jeff Colton, a National Weather Service meteorologist, predicted Grand Junction will get warmer still, reaching 50 degrees by the weekend. But temperature really isn’t the story.

Water is the story. It rained and snowed so much in recent days that storms pushed precipitation counts to well above normal for the area, Colton said.

“We’re already over an inch for the year,” he said. “It looks like we’re almost a half inch above normal.”

That hasn’t happened since 2011, Colton said.

Roughly three-tenths of an inch of precipitation fell in and around Grand Junction during the 24-hour period that ended at 4 p.m. Monday, Colton said.

For moisture, snow is much preferred in February, Colton said. The mountains store the snowpack, which melts over time as it is needed. Rainwater runs off too quickly before it can be fully utilized.

Up to 10 inches of heavy snow fell north of Powderhorn Mountain Resort, while 7 inches was reported four miles south of Collbran, the National Weather Service said. More than 5 feet of snow has fallen at Powderhorn since Jan. 31.

Snowpack is 120 percent of normal in some central mountain areas, meaning the state is holding its own this year when it comes to water supply, Colton said.

From The Mountain Mail (Joe Stone):

Snowpack in Colorado’s Arkansas River Basin currently stands at 115 percent of median with upper portions of the basin experiencing above-average snow depths while lower portions of the basin continue to languish in drought conditions. District hydrologist Jord Gertson provided the information as part of a report on basin snowpack and streamflow conditions during the monthly Upper Arkansas Water Conservancy District meeting Thursday in Salida.

Gertson’s report also included an overview of U.S. National Resources Conservation Service snowpack telemetry, or SNOTEL, stations, which measure snow depth, cumulative precipitation and snow-water equivalent, providing the bulk of snowpack data available in Colorado.

Looking at individual SNOTEL sites around the basin, Gertson reported the snow-water equivalent is 133 percent of median at Fremont Pass, 162 percent at Brumley, 105 percent at South Colony and 57 percent at Whiskey Creek. Overall, the Arkansas Basin snowpack stands at 193 percent of numbers recorded for the same date in 2013, with Fremont Pass at 197 percent, Brumley at 309 percent, South Colony at 165 percent and Whiskey Creek at 75 percent.

As Gertson pointed out, snowpack in upper basin locations is already approaching median peaks for an average year with at least two months to potentially add to those totals.

Gertson said the abundant snowpack translates into promising streamflow forecasts for the upper basin. For example, the streamflow forecast for Chalk Creek is for 114 percent of average, which bodes well for water users of all stripes, especially agricultural users.