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Current Percent of Median Snow Water Equivalent (SWE) for Colorado watersheds.
Drought comparison on Southern Ute Indian Tribe reservation between April and June 2024.
Drought comparison in Colorado between April and June 2024.
Photo Credit: courtesy SU Water Resources
Photo Credit: courtesy SU Water Resources
Photo Credit: courtesy SU Water Resources
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Drought update & seasonal irrigation outlook for Southwest Colorado

Friday - June 14, 2024 by George Gavrielides

With runoff and reservoirs peaking, the Water Resources Division (WRD) decided to provide a quick update on current conditions and an outlook for irrigation season and Summer 2024.  

 

SNOWPACK 

    Snowpack is almost gone in our basin with Percent of Median Snow Water Equivalent (SWE) being 12% as shown in Figure 1 below. There are patches of snow in the high country, but it’s dry. With recent warm temperatures, snow melted quickly, and runoff has peaked in our local rivers.  

      Luckily, our local reservoirs are doing good (Figure 2). Vallecito reservoir is currently 97% full and expected to fill. Lemon Reservoir is currently 83% full and may fill slightly more depending on irrigation demands. The Pine River Irrigation Project will get a 100% supply this year and irrigation season through September. However, Florida irrigators will only get a 60-65% supply this year with irrigation season ending mid-July to late-July depending on weather conditions.  

IRRIGATION FORECASTS 

    For the 2024 irrigation season, Vallecito reservoir is currently 97% full and the Pine River Irrigation Project will get a 100% supply this year with irrigation season through September. Lemon Reservoir is currently 83% full and may fill slightly more depending on irrigation demands. Florida irrigators will only get a 60-65% supply this year with irrigation season ending mid-July to late-July depending on weather conditions. 

 

DROUGHT 

    The western U.S. currently has regional drought conditions with some areas experiencing Extreme to Exceptional droughts. Southwest Colorado currently has Abnormally Dry to Moderate drought conditions. There’s been some slight changes to drought conditions over the last couple months. The moderate drought conditions shifted more west, so our local area currently has moderate drought conditions (Figure 3). The Southern Ute reservation has also seen slightly worsened drought conditions since early April with the entire reservation currently in moderate drought conditions.

 

DROUGHT FORECASTS 

      The NOAA Drought Outlook for June 1 – Aug. 31 shows Southwest Colorado having persistent drought conditions. Although the May/June/July precipitation and temperature forecasts support the drought outlook by showing a warm and dry summer, conditions can always change when monsoon season begins. Data and forecasting can be wrong, so there’s still potential for decent monsoons this year. 

     The WRD will keep track of drought conditions and update the Task Force when major changes occur. The WRD nor the Task Force need to take actions regarding drought at this time. If you’d like more information on snowpack, drought, and forecasting resources, feel free to reach out to George Gavrielides, Water Resources Specialist, at (970) 563-2932.  

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