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

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Basinwide Conditions Assessment
The SWSI val~eof -2.8 indicates that for November
the basin water supplies were below normal. The Natural
Resources Conservation Service reports that December 1
snowpack is 44% of normal. Flow at the gaging station Rio
Grande near Del Norte was 188 cfs, as compared to the
!ong~termaverage of 270 cfs. The Conejos River near
Mogote had a mean flow of 45 cfs (46% of normal). In
general, . stream flow in the basin remained below normal
due to the lack of signifrcant precipitation since' August.
Storage in Platoro, Rio G.rande, and Santa Maria reservoirs
totaled 80% of normal as of the end of November.
Precipitation during November in Alamosa was 0.26 inches,
0.17 inches below normal.

Outlook
Winter didn't really hit the San luis Valley until the
day after Thanksgiving. A snowstorm blanketed the valley
floor that day and the mercury hasn't climbed above 40
degrees since. Temperatures are expected to dip below
zero whenever a layer of snow is present. The first part of
November was very mild, with clear skies, warm
temperatures and low wind. As pleasant as that may be for
area residents, the resultant lack of snowpack in the higher
elevations doesn't bode well for winter sports enthusiasts.

Administrative/ManaGement Concerns
Approximately 6,600 acre~feet were diverted during
November into the Rio Grande ditches that were party to the
79CW91 recharge decree. This valuable decree allows
administrators the option to divert water from the river after
November 1st to replenish.the aquifers of the upper basin. A
recent application to Water Court is seeking to add two
ditches to the six already granted this right.
Water users on the Conejos River and its tributaries
continued to divert water for irrigation and recharge purposes
well into November. The delivery requirements for the
Conejos and the Rio Grande should be met or exceeded this
year.

Public Use Impacts
Outdoor activities not dependent on snowfaU
continue to prosper as the warm and dry autumn continued
through Thanksgiving.

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