Lake Powell Water Supply Outlook, April 1, 2013

Note: This publication is scheduled for revision. If you have feedback on content, format, or publication frequency, please contact us.
Prepared by Alcorn
NOAA, National Weather Service
Colorado Basin River Forecast Center
Salt Lake City, Utah
www.cbrfc.noaa.gov

Contents

Lake Powell Sub-Basin Summaries




*Median of forecasts within each basin.





*Median of forecasts within each basin.







*Median of forecasts within each basin.




Upper Green Basin Conditions




* Percent usable capacity, not percent average contents.
Click for multi-month Graph.

Yampa/White Basin Conditions




* Percent usable capacity, not percent average contents.
Click for multi-month Graph.

Duchesne Basin Conditions




* Percent usable capacity, not percent average contents.
Click for multi-month Graph.

Lower Green Basin Conditions




* Percent usable capacity, not percent average contents.
Click for multi-month Graph.

Upper Colorado Mainstem Basin Conditions




* Percent usable capacity, not percent average contents.
Click for multi-month Graph.

Gunnison Basin Conditions




* Percent usable capacity, not percent average contents.
Click for multi-month Graph.

Dolores Basin Conditions




* Percent usable capacity, not percent average contents.
Click for multi-month Graph.

San Juan Basin Conditions




* Percent usable capacity, not percent average contents.
Click for multi-month Graph.


Upper Green Specific Site Forecasts (kaf)

Click site name for graph.
Forecast
Period		90%
Exceedance
Volume		50%
Exceedance
Volume		Percent
Average		10%
Exceedance
Volume
Green
Daniel, Nr, Warren Bridge, At April-July120 165 67 200
Pine Ck
Fremont Lk, Abv April-July47 71 72 87
New Fork
Big Piney, Nr April-July120 210 59 310
Green
Fontenelle Res, Fontenelle Nr April-July250 405 56 600
Big Sandy
Farson, Nr April-July20 30 58 46
Green
Green River, Wy, Nr April-July230 390 53 595
Hams Fork
Frontier, Nr, Pole Ck, Blo April-July20 27 50 45
Viva Naughton Res April-July26 33 45 59
Blacks Fork
Robertson, Nr April-July32 54 61 82
Ef Smiths Fork
Stateline Res, Robertson,nr April-July10.8 14.6 56 21
Green
Flaming Gorge Res, Flaming Gorge Dam, At April-July290 490 50 805


Yampa/White Specific Site Forecasts (kaf)

Click site name for graph.
Forecast
Period		90%
Exceedance
Volume		50%
Exceedance
Volume		Percent
Average		10%
Exceedance
Volume
Yampa
Stagecoach Rsvr, Abv April-July8 14.6 63 20
Steamboat Springs April-July118 167 64 235
Elk
Milner, Nr April-July134 200 63 255
Elkhead Ck
Long Gulch, Abv, Hayden, Nr April-July15 30 41 51
Yampa
Maybell, Nr April-July320 495 53 780
Little Snake
Slater, Nr April-July43 75 48 112
Savery, Nr April-July77 138 40 240
Lily, Nr April-July72 140 41 260
White
Meeker, Nr April-July110 158 56 230
Watson, Nr April-July100 159 57 230


Duchesne Specific Site Forecasts (kaf)

Click site name for graph.
Forecast
Period		90%
Exceedance
Volume		50%
Exceedance
Volume		Percent
Average		10%
Exceedance
Volume
Big Brush Ck
Vernal, Nr, Red Fleet Res, Abv April-July8.8 12.5 60 20
Ashley Ck
Vernal, Nr April-July19 25 50 44
West Fork Duchesne
Vat Diversion, Blo April-July6.2 9.5 51 14.1
Duchesne
Tabiona, Nr April-July42 60 56 86
Rock Ck
Upper Stillwater Res April-July28 40 54 56
South Fork Rock Ck
Docs Div, Blo April-July2.5 3.6 49 5.9
Rock Ck
Mountain Home, Nr April-July34 49 56 68
Currant Ck
Currant Ck Res April-July5 8.7 44 14.5
Strawberry
Solider Springs,nr April-July9.3 18.9 34 32
Starvation Res, Duchesne, Nr April-July18 40 36 65
Duchesne
Duchesne, Nr, Knight Div, Abv April-July72 107 55 152
Lake Fork
Moon Lake Res, Mtn Home, Nr April-July21 35 53 47
Yellowstone
Altonah, Nr April-July21 32 52 43
Whiterocks
Whiterocks, Nr April-July19 28 52 48
Uinta
Neola, Nr April-July19 35 47 54
Duchesne
Myton April-July58 107 32 190
Randlett, Nr April-July68 110 29 200


Lower Green Specific Site Forecasts (kaf)

Click site name for graph.
Forecast
Period		90%
Exceedance
Volume		50%
Exceedance
Volume		Percent
Average		10%
Exceedance
Volume
White
Blo Tabbyune Ck, Soldier Summit, Nr April-July1.8 5 32 8
Fish Ck
Scofield, Nr, Reservoir, Abv April-July12.2 17 57 24
Price
Scofield Res, Scofield, Nr April-July16.5 23 56 32
Green
Green River, Ut April-July940 1330 45 2300
Huntington Ck
Electric Lake April-July4.6 5.9 44 9.2
Power Plant, Blo April-July16.8 22 55 32
Seeley Ck
Joes Vly Res, Orangeville, Nr April-July17.4 25 45 45
Ferron Ck
Ferron, Nr April-July11.9 19.5 51 32
Muddy Ck
Emery, Nr April-July6 9.3 47 15.9


Upper Colorado Mainstem Specific Site Forecasts (kaf)

Click site name for graph.
Forecast
Period		90%
Exceedance
Volume		50%
Exceedance
Volume		Percent
Average		10%
Exceedance
Volume
Colorado
Lake Granby, Granby, Nr April-July87 130 59 180
Willow Ck
Willow Ck Res, Granby, Nr April-July19 33 70 50
Fraser
Winter Park April-July8.5 12.5 64 16.5
Williams Fork
Williams Fork Res, Parshall, Nr April-July45 63 66 80
Muddy Ck
Wolford Mountain Reservoir April-July20 32 59 50
Blue
Dillon Res April-July70 100 61 140
Green Mtn Res April-July125 172 63 240
Colorado
Kremmling, Nr April-July375 510 59 710
Eagle
Gypsum, Blo April-July120 180 54 280
Colorado
Dotsero, Nr April-July595 800 57 1170
Frying Pan
Ruedi Res, Basalt, Nr April-July50 73 53 110
Roaring Fork
Glenwood Springs April-July275 370 54 520
Colorado
Glenwood Springs, Blo April-July900 1220 58 1770
Cameo, Nr April-July1000 1310 56 1930
Plateau Ck
Cameo, Nr April-July38 60 48 100
Colorado
Cisco, Nr April-July1600 2170 49 3350
Lake Powell, Glen Cyn Dam, At April-July1500 2700 38 4650


Gunnison Specific Site Forecasts (kaf)

Click site name for graph.
Forecast
Period		90%
Exceedance
Volume		50%
Exceedance
Volume		Percent
Average		10%
Exceedance
Volume
Taylor
Taylor Park Res April-July45 55 56 71
Almont April-July60 80 52 115
East
Almont April-July70 90 49 140
Gunnison
Gunnison, Nr April-July135 170 46 255
Tomichi Ck
Gunnison April-July18 25 34 41
Lake Fork
Gateview April-July45 70 57 100
Gunnison
Blue Mesa Res April-July260 315 47 480
Morrow Point Res April-July280 335 45 500
Crystal Res April-July315 370 44 535
Muddy Ck
Paonia Res, Bardine, Nr April-June27 38 42 60
April-July29 40 41 62
Nf Gunnison
Somerset, Nr April-July110 150 51 220
Surface Ck
Cedaredge April-July5 8 48 13
Uncompahgre
Ridgway Res April-July40 55 54 83
Colona April-July44 60 44 100
Delta April-July25 38 34 76
Gunnison
Grand Junction, Nr April-July510 640 43 950


Dolores Specific Site Forecasts (kaf)

Click site name for graph.
Forecast
Period		90%
Exceedance
Volume		50%
Exceedance
Volume		Percent
Average		10%
Exceedance
Volume
Dolores
Dolores April-July75 120 49 175
Mcphee Res April-July85 125 42 190
San Miguel
Placerville, Nr April-July50 70 55 90
Dolores
Cisco, Nr April-July130 215 38 350


San Juan Specific Site Forecasts (kaf)

Click site name for graph.
Forecast
Period		90%
Exceedance
Volume		50%
Exceedance
Volume		Percent
Average		10%
Exceedance
Volume
San Juan
Pagosa Springs April-July65 110 51 155
Carracas, Nr April-July140 200 53 290
Navajo Res, Archuleta, Nr April-July250 370 50 610
Farmington April-July380 540 49 870
Bluff, Nr April-July380 520 47 850
Rio Blanco
Pagosa Springs, Nr, Blanco Dam, Blo April-July20 29 54 39
Navajo
Chromo, Nr, Oso Div Dam, Blo April-July20 34 52 51
Piedra
Arboles, Nr April-July85 110 52 190
Los Pinos
Vallecito Res, Bayfield, Nr April-July66 110 57 177
Animas
Durango April-July162 250 60 360
Florida
Lemon Res, Durango, Nr April-July18 32 58 51
La Plata
Hesperus April-July7 12 52 20
Mancos
Mancos, Nr April-July9 15 48 26

Differences between the full period forecasts and the residual forecasts may not exactly equal the actual observed volumes due to rounding conventions (see Definitions section).

Green End of Month Reservoir Contents (kaf)

EOM
Contents		Percent
EOM
Average		Percent
Usable
Capacity		Last Year
EOM		Last Year
%Average		EOM
Average		Usable
Capacity
untitled Green
Fontenelle Res, Fontenelle Nr 128.8 106 37 122.6 101 121.7 344.8
untitled Big Sandy
Big Sandy Res, Farson, Nr 9.2 47 24 24.7 126 19.6 38.3
Blacks Fork
Meeks Cabin 8.5 63 28 19.1 143 13.4 29.9
untitled Ef Smiths Fork
Stateline Res, Robertson,nr 4.9 89 35 7.5 136 5.5 13.9
untitled Green
Flaming Gorge Res, Flaming Gorge Dam, At 2986.3 99 80 3232.9 107 3021.3 3749.0
untitled Strawberry
Solider Springs,nr 895.6 121 81 981.1 133 739.9 1105.9
Starvation Res, Duchesne, Nr 156.0 104 94 164.9 110 149.7 165.3
untitled Rock Ck
Upper Stillwater Res 9.0 202 29 8.7 194 4.5 31.4
untitled Lake Fork
Moon Lake Res, Mtn Home, Nr 11.8 43 32 24.7 91 27.3 36.5
untitled Big Brush Ck
Red Fleet Res, Vernal, Nr 14.8 78 57 23.1 121 19.0 25.7
untitled Price
Scofield Res, Scofield, Nr 30.5 99 46 53.5 173 30.9 65.8
untitled Seeley Ck
Joes Vly Res, Orangeville, Nr 33.9 85 54 49.8 125 40.0 62.5
untitled Huntington Ck
Electric Lake 19.0 104 61 24.3 133 18.3 31.5
untitled
TOTAL 4308.3 102 76 4736.9 112 4211.1 5700.4


Upper Colorado End of Month Reservoir Contents (kaf)

EOM
Contents		Percent
EOM
Average		Percent
Usable
Capacity		Last Year
EOM		Last Year
%Average		EOM
Average		Usable
Capacity
untitled Colorado
Lake Granby, Granby, Nr 195.8 62 40 412.4 131 314.3 490.3
untitled Willow Ck
Willow Ck Res, Granby, Nr 8.7 106 95 8.0 98 8.2 9.1
untitled Williams Fork
Williams Fork Res, Parshall, Nr 41.9 69 43 82.4 135 60.8 96.9
untitled Muddy Ck
Wolford Mountain Reservoir 24.0 55 36 61.6 141 43.7 66.0
untitled Blue
Dillon Res 163.3 76 64 243.2 113 215.5 254.0
Green Mtn Res 60.4 92 41 79.7 121 65.9 146.9
untitled Homestake Ck
Homestake Res -9999.0 -99 -99 0.5 2 25.1 43.0
untitled Frying Pan
Ruedi Res, Basalt, Nr 61.4 97 60 71.4 113 63.2 102.0
untitled Plateau Ck
Vega Res, Collbran, Nr 8.8 62 27 18.8 132 14.2 32.9
untitled Taylor
Taylor Park Res 56.9 91 54 67.2 108 62.4 106.2
untitled Gunnison
Blue Mesa Res 336.0 74 41 539.2 119 454.9 829.5
Morrow Point Res 104.8 94 90 114.0 102 111.7 117.0
Crystal Res 14.5 90 83 16.6 102 16.2 17.5
untitled Muddy Ck
Paonia Res, Bardine, Nr 1.4 46 8 1.1 36 3.1 16.7
untitled Uncompahgre
Ridgway Res 56.5 81 68 70.9 101 70.0 83.0
untitled Dolores
Mcphee Res 188.4 66 49 303.1 106 285.4 381.1
untitled
TOTAL 1322.8 74 48 2090.1 115 1789.4 2749.1
Colorado
Lake Powell 11651.1 69 48 15458.4 91 16941.7 24322.0
untitled
TOTAL 11651.1 69 48 15458.4 91 16941.7 24322.0


San Juan End of Month Reservoir Contents (kaf)

EOM
Contents		Percent
EOM
Average		Percent
Usable
Capacity		Last Year
EOM		Last Year
%Average		EOM
Average		Usable
Capacity
untitled Los Pinos
Vallecito Res, Bayfield, Nr 49.6 78 40 84.2 133 63.2 125.4
untitled San Juan
Navajo Res, Archuleta, Nr 934.2 71 55 1307.8 100 1310.4 1696.0
untitled Florida
Lemon Res, Durango, Nr 8.1 37 20 15.9 73 21.7 39.8
untitled
TOTAL 991.9 71 53 1407.8 101 1395.3 1861.2

Precipitation Maps




Definitions

10% exceedance forecast: Given the current hydrometeorological conditions, i.e current snowpack, soil moisture and streamflow, the volume that has a 10% chance of being exceeded. Previously referred to as "Reasonable Maximum Forecast".

50% exceedance forecast: Given the current hydrometeorological conditions, i.e current snowpack, soil moisture and streamflow, the volume that has a 50% chance of being exceeded. Previously referred to as "Most Probable Forecast".

90% exceedance forecast: Given the current hydrometeorological conditions, i.e current snowpack, soil moisture and streamflow, the volume that has a 90% chance of being exceeded. Previously referred to as "Reasonable Minimum Forecast".

Acre-Foot (af): The volume equal to one acre covered one foot deep (43,560 cubic feet). See kaf below.

Average: The arithmetic mean. The sum of the values divided by the number of values. Values from 1981-2010 are used for this publication.

Categories: Much Above Average=Greater than 130%, Above Average=111-130%, Near Average=90-110%, Below Average=70-89%, Much Below Average=Less than 70%.

CBRFC: Colorado Basin River Forecast Center.

Forecast Period: The period from April 1 through July 31, unless otherwise noted.

kaf: Thousand Acre-Feet. See Acre-Foot above.

Inflow: The volume of water that flows into a reservoir or lake.

Median: The middle value of an ordered set of values. Half of the values are higher and half of the values are lower. When the set contains an even number of values the median is the average of the two middle numbers.

NOAA: National Oceanic and Atomospheric Administration.

NWS: National Weather Service.

Rounding Conventions:
RangeRound to
0-1.990.01
2.0-19.90.1
20-1991.0
200-9995.0
1000+3 significant digits


Streamflow: The volume of water that flows past a specific stream site.

Water Year: The 12-month period, October 1 through September 30. The water year is designated by the calendar year in which it ends. Thus, the year ending September 30, 2008, is called the "2008 water year."


Additional Information

Water supply forecasts take into consideration present hydrometeorological conditions and use average basin temperatures and precipitation for the forecast period. As the forecast season progresses, a greater portion of the future hydrologic and climatic uncertainty becomes known and monthly forecasts become more accurate. For more information on the tools we use, consult Water Supply Forecasting Tools.

Volume forecasts represent adjusted flows; that is, observed flows with upstream water use taken into account. Adjusted flows will closely approximate natural or unimpaired flows. However, not all upstream diversions or impoundments are measured or quantifiable. For specific adjustments used with each forecast point, consult the Guide to Water Supply Forecasting.

The Water Supply Outlook is issued monthly January through May by the Colorado Basin River Forecast Center. It represents a coordinated effort between the National Weather Service, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Geological Survey and local water district managers.

Note: Data used in this report are provisional and are subject to revision.

For more information, or to be included on the mailing list, please contact:

Colorado Basin River Forecast Center
2242 W North Temple
Salt Lake City, UT 84116
(801) 524-5130
www.cbrfc.noaa.gov