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<br />RIO GRANDE BASIN <br /> <br />Basinwide Conditions Assessment <br />The SWSI value for the month was 3.5. The Natural <br />Resources Conservation Service reports that February 1 <br />snowpack is 1730/0 of normal. Flow at the gaging station Rio <br />Grande near Del Norte averaged 182 cfs (1070/0 of normal). <br />Storage in Platoro, Rio Grande, and Santa Maria reservoirs <br />totaled 1070/0 of normal as of the end of January. <br />Southwestern Colorado received abundant snowfall as <br />two hefty snowstorms blanketed the upper Rio Grande basin <br />during January and another blasted the area in early February. <br />The Natural Resources Conservation Service stream flow <br />forecasts are now predicting runoff in area streams to be in the <br />range of 1300/0 to 1800/0 of average during the 2008 irrigation <br />season. <br /> <br />Administrative/Manaqement Concerns <br />Much effort was spent during January finalizing <br />streamflow and diversion records. The annual meetings of <br />local districts and ditch boards are held this time of year to <br />reflect back on the 2007 season and plan for the upcoming <br />irrigation season. Given even average snowfall from now <br />through April, there is a very good chance of a high runoff this <br />year. It's still early, but local officials are concerned about the <br />possibility of flooding. <br /> <br />Public Use Impacts <br />The heavy snowfall closed Wolf Creek and La Manga <br />passes for a few days during January. High snowbanks along <br />the roads in mountainous areas "look more like they did in the <br />old days". Other than transportation difficulties, winter sports <br />enthusiasts are enjoying the snowy conditions. <br /> <br />I- <br />W <br />S <br /> <br />W <br />::J <br />....J <br /><C <br />> 0 <br />>< <br />w <br />o <br />z <br />- -1 <br />>- <br />0:: <br />o <br />-2 <br /> <br />160,000 <br /> <br />~ 140,000 <br />LL <br />cb <br />~ 120,000 <br /> <br />~ 100,000 <br />---l <br />LL <br />~ 80,000 <br />i= <br />:s 60,000 <br />:J <br />~ <br />B 40,000 <br /> <br />5 <br /> <br />Feb-08 <br /> <br />RIO GRANDE BASIN SNSI HISTORY <br /> <br />-3 <br /> <br /> <br />-4 <br />Jal1-gg Jan-DO Jan-D1 Jan-D2 Jal1-03 Jan-04 Jal1-05 Jal1-00 Jal1-07 Jart-OO <br /> <br />rvDNTH / YEAR <br /> <br />RIO GRANDE NR DELNORTE, FLOW BY WATER YEAR <br /> <br />180,000 <br /> <br /> <br />