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<br />GUNNISON BASIN <br /> <br />Basinwide Conditions Assessment <br />The SWSI value for the month was 3.9. The Natural <br />Resources Conservation Service reports that March 1 <br />snowpack is 151 % of normal. Flow at the gaging station <br />Uncompahgre River near Ridgway was 50.5 cfs, as <br />compared to the long-term average of 45.4 cfs. Storage in <br />Taylor Park, Crawford, and Fruitland reservoirs totaled 1180/0 <br />of normal as of the end of February. <br /> <br />Outlook <br /> <br />February in the Gunnison Basin proved to be <br />another good one with NRCS SNOTEL sites reporting a slight <br />increase in the average snow water equivalent <br />measurements from 144 percent of average on January 31st <br />to 146 percent of average on February 29th. Supply <br />conditions will be excellent for 2008. However, weather <br />conditions this spring will determine how early or late runoff <br />will occur and how long runoff conditions will exist before <br />reservoir storage is relied on for irrigation needs. <br /> <br />Administrative/Manaqement Concerns <br />The Bureau of Reclamation has scheduled <br />maintenance operations at the stilling basins below Crystal <br />Dam and Blue Mesa Dam during the month of March. To <br />accommodate maintenance activities during these events, <br />flows will be reduced significantly below the dams. The <br />Bureau of Reclamation has procedures in place to protect <br />flows in the Gunnison Gorge as a result of the maintenance <br />activities. <br /> <br />Public Use Impacts <br />Spring skiing remains excellent. Telluride and <br />Crested Butte ski areas have record snow levels. These <br />communities have limited places to put the snow removed <br />from streets and parking lots and have even resorted to <br />hauling snow out of town. <br /> <br />~ 20,000 <br />LL <br />cb <br />U <br /><( <br />s~ 15,000 <br />o <br />---l <br />LL <br />W <br />~ 10,000 <br /><( <br />---l <br />:J <br />~ <br />B 5,000 <br /> <br />6 <br /> <br />Mar-08 <br /> <br />GJNNISON BASIN SNSI HISTORY <br /> <br />I- 2 <br />W <br />S <br /> <br /> <br />w1 <br />::J <br />....J <br /><C <br />> <br />>< 0 <br />w <br />o <br />~ <br />-1 <br />>- <br />0:: <br />o <br />-2 <br /> <br />-3 <br /> <br />-4 <br />Jan-gg Jal1-00 Jal1-01 Jan-D2 Jal1-03 Jan-04 Jal1-05 Jan-OO Jan-D7 Jal1-OO <br /> <br />rvDNTH / YEAR <br /> <br />UNCOVlPAHGRE RIVER NR RIDGWAY, FLOW BY WATER YEAR <br /> <br />25,000 <br /> <br /> <br />o <br />O:i <br /> <br />Nov <br /> <br />Dee <br /> <br />Jan <br /> <br />Feb <br /> <br />rvlareh <br /> <br />-----8-- WET (1984) <br /> <br />~ DRY (1977) <br /> <br />---fr-- A VG <br /> <br />-*2008 <br /> <br />REPRESENTATIVE RESERVOI RS <br /> <br />90,000 <br /> <br /> <br />80,000 <br /> <br />70,000 <br /> <br />Q3 <br />Q) <br />~ 60,000 <br />U <br />co <br />ai 50,000 <br />0) <br />co <br />a 40,000 <br />Q) <br />:0 <br />~ 30,000 <br />:J <br /> <br />20,000 <br /> <br />10,000 <br /> <br />Taylor Park <br /> <br />Crawford <br /> <br />Fruitland <br /> <br />III Avg. 2128 Contents <br /> <br />I!JJ 2129/08 Contents <br />