COLORADO 
Weather and Water Conditions 
Weather and water conditions in Colorado during the spring and 
early summer were considered good to excellent for waterfowl nesting and 
production. In general, water levels in eastern Colorado and the 
San Luis Valley were far above average, and the rest of the State was at 
least on a par with past years. All of this was due to a combination of 
good spring precipitation, continuing early summer rains, and a normal .. 
snowpack which provided ample water to all areas.. 
The writers believe that over-all weather and water conditions 
in Colorado were and are highly favorable for waterfowl production and 
brood rearing. 
Breeding Population Indices 
Examination of the duck breeding-pair estimates by area reveal 
that the 1958 counts were up 8.8 percent from 1957 and 8.7 percent above 
the four-year average (Table 1). 
Table 1. Summary of Colorado Duck Breeding Ground Conditions > 
1958 with 1957 and the 4-Year Average for Comparison 
Total Estimated Breeding Pairs 
-Year . 
Area _ Average 195 1958 
San Luis Valley 66,413 4,838 8,720 
North Park 3,486 3,411 3,534 
South Platte Valley 1,680 1,657 1,782 
Cache la Poudre Valley 1,701 2,800 1,419 
Yampa Valley —S 2,821 3,356 2,077 
Brown's Park . i 122 208 199 

TOTALS 16,307 16,260 17,731 

Goose breeding conditions held fairly steady with 1956 and 1957 
figures. Previously projected breeding-pair estimates are know to be high, 
therefore, this report will use the actual ground count figures for the 
years 1956, 1957 and 1958 (Table 2). 
7 
