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

n:"j,,:c"l
u...."...... .",J J _"

GUNNISON BASIN

Basinwide Conditions Assessment
The SWSI value of -2.3 indicates that for January
the basin water supplies were below normal. The Natural
Resources Conservation Service reports that February 1
snowpack is 63% of normal. Flow at the gaging station
Uncompahgre River near Ridgway was 37.8 cfs, as
compared to the long-term average of 44.6 cfs. Storage in
Taylor Park, Crawford, and Fruitland reservoirs totaled 94%
of normal as ()f the end of-January.

Outlook
Grand Mesa snowpack is a little over 50% at Park
Reservoir. The reservoir storage on Grand Mesa Is down,
and carry over is very low, about 22% of capacity. There is
less than average snowpack for this time of year, ,and adding
insult to injury, the snow we do have in the basin is a dry
powder, without much moisture content. The first month into
the year, court applications and permit applications are
down, although regional population growth continues.

Administrative/Manaaement Concerns
The lack of precipitation is causing concern among
water administrators and water users. Tensions are
increasing because of the lack of both carryover and back
up sources. The lack of water this year may also increase
the rate of wells being replaced, a rate that has been on the
rise in recent years. '

Public Use Impacts
The Teiluride area appears to be thriVing on the
snow from December and early January. The ski areas
have not made snow since the end of December. The
snowpack Is below average, but the colder temperatures
have reduced melting of, the snow that has fallen in the
basin.

In January, 2001, Black Canyon National Park filed
in water court to quantifytheji' Federal Reserve ~aterright,
for flow in the Gunnison river through the canyon. the filing
sparked much controversy. Public and private entities
reacted by filing a record 383 statements of opposition. The
original water was created in the Supreme Court Case US
VS. Denver, and that case designated Water Division 5 as the'
representing court. The Park Service filed the 2001 case in
Division 4. Since then, opposing parties have been working
with the Park Service to 'have the venue changed to the
Division 4 court, but this issue has not yet been resolved.

Felr02

GLtNS:NBllSINSVIS ~

,s'.

s

w
=>
~,
~
~o
~

!i:.1
C

-2

-3

-4 ---- ---. .____ ___
.hnIl2 JonQl _ Jao>lI5 _ _ _ JoMIIl .-.o:l ..-.01
M:Mli/\'5I\R

IN:XlM>AHORE; RIVER /IR RIDGWAY, FIDN BY WAlER ~

35.(0)

5,000

30.000
3l
't 25,000
~
?i :lO.lXXl
o
~
~15,OOO
..
S
~ 10,000
::>
(.)

o
Oct

NJv

Dee

.Ian

Fell

Mlrd1

AprI .

--e- 'M:T (1!l64)

..... LR\' (1977)

..... AVG .

"'*'~

Rl3'RESeNfATlVE~

70,000

,.

10.000

60,000

!:

I~OOO
... .co,OOO
(11
~ 30.000
~
Il
=> :lO,ooo

o

Tll)fa Fa!<
.AYg. 01131 0:ntenIa

0lMbd

Fnilland
B01IJ1IO.2~

6

it: