Colorado Water
State reservoirs are filling, albeit slowly, according to the Rocky Mountain News [May 18, 2004, "Conservation efforts appear to be paying off at reservoirs"]. From the article, "Snowpack levels are watched closely in Colorado and other western states because melting snow provides about 80 percent of the state's fresh water. Last year, for instance, the state's extensive reservoir system was down by more than 1.2 million acre-feet. Its total capacity is about 6.4 million acre-feet, according to the Colorado Division of Water Resources. This year, reservoirs have begun seeing water levels rise, with a shortfall measuring just 550,000 acre-feet. An acre-foot equals about 326,000 gallons, enough water to serve up to two families for one year...But Colorado hasn't seen an average snow year since 1997, according to the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Mike Gillespie, snow survey supervisor at the conservation service, said the annual spring runoff this year will be finished by the first week in June, three to four weeks ahead of schedule."
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