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RIO GRANDE BASIN Basinwide Conditions Assessment The SWSI value of 1.9 indicates that for June the basin water supplies were slightly above normal. Flow at the gaging station Rio Grande near Del Norte was 4,122 cfs, as compared to the long-term average of 3,092 cfs. The Conejos River near Mogote had a mean flow of 1,352 cfs (104% of normal). Storage in Platoro, Rio Grande, and Santa Maria reservoirs totaled 161 % of normal as of the end of June. Precipitation in Alamosa was 0.32 inches, 0.35 inches below normal. Alamosa temperatures ranged from 290 to 880, with an average of 58.00, 1.40 below normal. Outlook It appears that the NRCS forecasts for April through September runoff will be exceeded on both the Rio Grande and Conejos Rivers. The late spring snow storms apparently brought more moisture to the basin than indicated by the snow course readings. The result was a protracted runoff that broughLmoderately high flows at manageable levels for an extended period. Administrative/Manaaement Concerns In most years administrators must place curtailments on indexed stream flows in order to meet water delivery requirements to the state line pursuant to the Rio Grande Compact. On May 7, 1999 the delivery targets were set at 17% for the Rio Grande and 20% for the Conejos River system. As of July 7 these same targets were still in effect. Public Use Imoacts The end of June finally brought familiar summer time weather to the San Luis Valley, "the land of cool sunshine". Scattered clouds and warm temperatures replaced the wind and rain that dominated this spring. Most reservoirs reached peak storage levels near the end of the month and will begin a slow decline as releases are made for irrigation needs. Jul-99 ROGR<>U:E BASlNSIIS HS1tH\' Ui ;:2 w ::> :;;! , > x ~ 0 !: >- ., Q: o -2 .;! .. Ja>1lOJ2><l1Ja>92Ja><JlJ;n9lJln.ll5.8>l1l_......._ M)\IIH/ 'l'EAA RQ<HtlE /IR lE.N:RJE RnVer' VoAJER~ 1;maD _1,anaD '" '" u. .. ~ a:ncm ~ o rt a:ncm w > i= ~ 4ll,lID ::l ::! ::l t) 2Il,al) o ~ ~ ~ m ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ -+VEr(1!8') .....lR((1!l7I) ......AG ---s ~~ 6l,lIll 8J,(D) '" ,*4l,llJl ! u co ,,; ~ :D,(XXl g II) '" ~2lClD ::l 'Q(ID o RoOam Rmo Si10MrB lAg 6'3JCb1a1s 1163)OOCb1a1s 5