WSP13019 ‎(2)‎

• File Number: 8040.800
• Description: Colorado Water Resources
• State: CO
• Basin: Statewide
• Date: 7/1/1999
• Author: Division of Water Resources
• Title: Colorado Water Supply Conditions Update Reports
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Data

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RIO GRANDE BASIN

Basinwide Conditions Assessment
The SWSI value of -1.6 indicates that for June the
basin water supplies were slightly below normal. Flow at the
gaging station Rio Grande near Del Norte was 3.471 cfs, as
compared to the long-term average of 3,074 cfs. The
c.onejos River near Mogote had a. mean flow of 906 cfs
(70% of normal). Storage in Platoro, Rio Grande, and Santa
Maria reservoirs totaled 87% of normal as of the end of
June.
Precipitation in Alamosa was only 0,07 inches, 0.60
inches below normal. Alamosa temperatures ranged from
260 to 880, with an average of 60.90, 1.50 above normal.

Outlook
The calling priority on the Rio Grande is surprisingly
senior for an above average water year. And, although
stream flow in the Rio Grande was aboVe normal during
June, much of that was due to the reservoir releases that
began earlier than in a typical year. Without substantial
rainfall, stream flow in the Rio Grande will fall below normal
after reservoir releases are completed in July.
Stream flow levels in the Conejos River and its
tributaries are well below average at this time. Although it
may not get as bad as la~t year, the forecast for water supply
for the remainder of the irrigation season is bleak.
Most of the other drainages in the basin are
experiencing similar conditions. Low water levels and senior
calls have replaced the abundant early runoff.

Administrative/Manaaement Concerns
Administrators have placed curtailments on indexed.
stream flows in order to meet water delivery requirements to
the state line pursuant to the Rio Grande Compact. The
current delivery targets are set at 25% for the Rio Grande
and 17% for the Conejos River system. These percentages
of native flow available at the index gages are. routed
downstream past the ditches to the state line.

Public Use Imoacts
The warm dry weather has benefited those farmers
and ranchers with native grass and alfalfa crops. But, those
growing grain and potatoes were hard hit by a late freeze
during the second week of June. Most reservoirs reached
peak storage levels near the end of Mayor early June and
have already begun to decline as releases are made for
irrigation needs. As the summer progresses, recreational
opportunities will be hampered by low water levels in both
reservoirs and streams.

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