Forecasting Colorado River flow

Water supply forecasting procedures used by the U.S. Bureau of reclamation office at Boulder City, Nevada, for estimating the inflow to Lake Mead are outlined. Some of the results and examples of multiple correlation of runoff from the Upper Colorado with snow surveys and precipitation data are presented. There is discussion of forecasts to be made on various dates for various periods of the mass curve adjustments of precipitation records, of the optimum number of stations for multiple correlation, of methods for estimating missing records, and of other factors influencing the precipitation runoff relationship. One of the conclusions of the study is the need for a long period of record in estimating a reliable system for forecasting.