Snowpack Growing But Drought Conditions Exist Despite Recent Snow
DENVER (CBS4)- With snow piling up in the high country and along the Front Range, Colorado's snowpack is also growing.
Last year in April, it was 31 percent of average statewide and 42 percent in the South Platte river basin. That's where Denver Water gets most of its supplies.
But after several rounds of spring snow, the statewide average was 85 percent on April and 88 percent for the South Platte. Still several more feet of snow would be needed to get the pack back to its 30 year average.
And because the snowpack was so low last year, reservoirs are low before the snow starts melting this year.
That melt typically starts in mid-April but could be a bit later because snow remains in the forecast at least through April 22.
Even with the increased snowpack, Denver Water says it will stick with the Stage Two Drought watering restrictions. That means customers will be limited to watering lawns two days a week.
The utility says it is concerned we could still see a dry summer or another dry winter.
