Snowpack runoff has started; flood concerns ease

Snow melt in Colorado's mountains has started.

But because of a dry April, flood concerns have eased somewhat, particularly in the southern part of the state which saw the heaviest amount of snow during the winter season.

And, according to the final snowpack readings in the state by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service, northern mountain snow melt in April was slower, which helped maintain snowpacks at a level slightly above the long term average for May 1.

Reservoir storage throughout the state is near or slightly below the long-term average, said Allen Green, state conservationist in a press release.

The state's snowpack dropped to 115 percent of the long-term average by May 1, when the final surveys were completed. That's the lowest since Jan. 1, when the statewide snowpack was 110 percent of average, Green said. The highest the state reached came March 1 when it reached 135 percent of average.

But even with the decreasing snowpack percentages, Colorado's water supply outlook remains in excellent condition across the state. The lower elevation snow melt produced above average streamflows in many basins during April and runoff forecasts for the remainder of the spring and summer months see near to above-average volumes. The highest volumes remain in southern Colorado, Green said.

"This year's runoff across the Gunnison, Arkansas, Rio Grande and San Juan river basins appear to be the best in over a decade and many water users will be able to take advantage of the runoff in coming months," Green said in the press release.

% Average % Last Year

BASIN Sowpack Snowpack

Gunnison 136 290

Colorado 120 171

South Platte 103 110

North Platte 109 159

Yampa/White 108 259

Arkansas 131 148

Rio Grande 117 170

San Juan, Animas, Dolores 103 200

Statewide 115 172

Source: USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service