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April snowpack above normal

Sky-Hi News Staff

The April 1 snow survey has shown that snowpack in Middle Park and the upper Colorado River Basin is currently around 116 percent of average.

Last April 1, the area was around 78 percent of average, hinting at a good year for snowfall so far.

Snowpack in the mountains above Middle Park ranges from 95 percent to 141 percent of the 30-year-average, according to the USDA NRCS Kremmling Field Office.



“At this point in time irrigators, towns, river runners and other water users can expect near normal river levels this summer,” a press release from the office states. “From this point on spring runoff will be highly dependent on melting conditions (i.e., temperature and wind), as well as spring snow accumulation and/or rainfall.”

Average readings for major river basins including the Colorado River, South Platte River, Yampa River, White River, and Larame and North Platter River are above 100 percent of average. Basins including the Gunnison River, Arkansas River, Upper Rio Grande, San Miguel, Dolores, Animas and San Juan Rivers are below 100 percent of average.



The April 1 readings are the most critical for determining runoff and summer water supplies as snowpack peaks around that time, according to NRCS. NRCS will conduct its final snow survey at the end of April.


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