Good news for all: Above-average snowpack boosts Colorado's water storage
Miles BlumhardtColorado's above-average snowpack for the second consecutive year has created similar reservoir storage excess, which is good news for farmers, city municipalities and residents.
On Thursday, Northern Water board of directors gave a preliminary recommendation of a 70% water quota, the same as last year when Colorado had robust snowpack.
The board sets a quota of 50% in November then increases or decreases the water quota as the water season plays out.
The water year ended Tuesday. Snowpack, reservoir storage, stream flows and a projected April precipitation forecast are all indicating ample water, which prompted the board to make its initial recommendation. A final decision will be made at next week's board meeting.
Northern Water manages the Colorado-Big Thompson Project, which diverts water from the Upper Colorado River Basin to roughly 900,000 residents in eight northern Front Range and Eastern Plains counties. It stores water in Horsetooth and Carter Lake reservoirs in Larimer County as well as 10 other reservoirs.
"We anticipate this summer that farmers will have the water supply they need for the summer growing season,'' said Jeff Stahla, Northern Water spokesperson. "And the same will be true for businesses and residents throughout the year.''
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That's not only good news for farmers but recreationists as well. Horsetooth Reservoir is already more than 90% full, and Stahla said he expects an ample water supply at the popular reservoir throughout the boating season.
Above-average snowpack will allow the district to let water spill over dams at places like Lake Granby and enhance Colorado River water levels downstream.
How snowpack is faring in each of Colorado's basins
As of Tuesday, average snowpack over the eight basins statewide was at 108%, marking the second consecutive year of above-average snowpack. It's the third time in four years the state's basins have hit that mark.
The South Platte River Basin, which includes Fort Collins and Denver, led the state at 118% of average, which is just shy of where the basin was during last year's big snow year.
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Russ Schumacher, director of the Colorado Climate Center, said the key snowpack station for the Poudre River is at Joe Wright Reservoir. It was at 111% of the median.
The North Platte River Basin and Yampa/White River Basin each were at 113%; Upper Colorado River Basin was at 111%; Arkansas River Basin and Upper Rio Grande River Basin were at 101%; San Miguel, Dolores, Animas and San Juan River Basin was at 100% and the Gunnison River Basin was at 98%.
Fort Collins snow totals
It won't take much from Thursday's expected snow to push the city past its average annual snowfall.
Fort Collins sits at 55.7 inches of snow, which is .01 of an inch below average. The city is expected to pick up about an inch of snow Thursday.
Despite only receiving 4.5 inches of snow in March, which is well below the average of 12.6 inches for the month, the city is still ahead of its average of 48.9 inches for this time of year. Last year, Fort Collins received 13.3 inches of snow in March.
What to expect in April
April is the city's third wettest month with normal precipitation of 2.06 inches, trailing May and June. Average snowfall is 6.2 inches, but Schumacher said April, like March, has shown it can bring snowstorms producing 12 inches or more of snow.
Four of the city's top 10 snowstorms have occurred in April, with all dumping more than 20 inches on the city.
Reporter Miles Blumhardt looks for stories that impact your life. Be it news, outdoors, sports — you name it, he wants to report it. Have a story idea? Contact him at milesblumhardt@coloradoan.com or on Twitter @MilesBlumhardt. Support his work and that of other Coloradoan journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today.