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<br />RIO GRANDE BASIN <br /> <br />Basinwide Conditions Assessment <br />The SWSI value for the month was 1.2. Flow at the <br />gaging station Rio Grande near Del Norte averaged 774 cfs <br />(1000/0 of normal). The Conejos River near Mogote had a <br />mean flow of 273 cfs (1330/0 of normal). Storage in Platoro, <br />Rio Grande, and Santa Maria reservoirs totaled 1020/0 of <br />normal as of the end of August. <br />Precipitation in Alamosa was 0.49 inches, less than <br />half of normal for August. However, significant rainfall <br />occurred in some areas of the valley. Temperatures ranged <br />from 40 degrees to 88 degrees in Alamosa where the average <br />monthly temperature was 65.4 degrees, 3.3 degrees above <br />normal. <br /> <br />Outlook <br />The above-average flow in the Conejos River was due <br />to extensive storage releases from Platoro Reservoir for <br />downstream irrigation need. <br />Other area streams were near or above average flow <br />for August, due mainly to the higher flows near the beginning of <br />the month. Soil moisture conditions in the basin are very good. <br /> <br />Administrative/Manaaement Concerns <br />The curtailment percentages on the Rio Grande and <br />Conejos River systems are anticipated to remain at current <br />levels throughout the rest of the irrigation season. A large, <br />unexpected increase or decrease in flows during the remainder <br />of the season may require that the curtailments be adjusted. <br /> <br />Public Use Impacts <br />Weather conditions have been generally cooperative <br />as farmers and ranchers begin to harvest their crops and cut <br />native hay and alfalfa. Commodity prices for most crops are <br />relatively high, and if the weather holds, the area farmers <br />should have a good year. <br /> <br />Sep-07 <br /> <br />RIO GRANDE BASIN SNSI HISTORY <br /> <br />4.0 <br /> <br />I- <br />W <br />S <br /> <br /> <br />3.0 <br /> <br />2.0 <br /> <br />1.0 <br /> <br />w <br />:3 <br /><( <br />> 0.0 <br />>< <br />w <br />o <br />z <br />- -1.0 <br />>- <br />a:: <br />o <br />-2.0 <br /> <br />-3.0 <br /> <br />Jan-98 Jan-99 Jan-OO Jan-01 Jan-02 Jan-03 Jan-04 Jan-05 Jan-OO <br />rvDNTH / YEAR <br /> <br />RIO GRANDE NR DELNORTE, FLOW BY WATER YEAR <br /> <br />1,200,000 <br /> <br /> <br />Q) 1,000,000 <br />(1) <br />LL <br />a, <br />~ 800,000 <br /> <br />s- <br />o <br />Li 600,000 <br />w <br />> <br />i= <br />::s 400,000 <br />::J <br />~ <br />::J <br />u 200,000 <br /> <br />Nov D3c Jan Feb March April May June July Aug Sept <br /> <br />--e- V\ET (1987) ---+-- DRY (2002) -fr- AVG --* 2007 <br /> <br />REPRESENTAllVE RESERVOIRS <br /> <br />25,000 <br /> <br /> <br />20,000 <br /> <br />Q) <br />~ <br />a, <br />g 15,000 <br />(1)- <br />Ol <br />co <br />o <br />~ 10,000 <br />::c <br />co <br />(JJ <br />::J <br /> <br />5,000 <br /> <br />o <br /> <br />Rio Gande <br /> <br />P1atoro <br /> <br />Santa Maria <br /> <br />5 <br /> <br />II Avg. 08/31 Caltents <br /> <br />II 08/31/07 Contents <br />