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RGDSS Memorandum <br />Final <br />TO: Ray Bennett <br />FROM: Liz Payton, Ed Armbruster and Chuck Brendecke, Hydrosphere <br />SUBJECT: RGDSS Surface <br />DATE: April 16, 1999 <br />CC: Randy Seaholm <br />Introduction <br />Water, Task 2, Identify Study Period <br />This memorandum represents the delivery requirements associated with Task 2, Identify Study Period. <br />The objectives of this task are as follows: <br />Task 2.1 Research and describe significant water resource developments and policies that <br />have occurred over time in the Rio Grande Basin that have influenced basin hydrology and <br />water use. <br />Task 2.2 Identify time-series hydrologic and climatic data (diversions, streamflows, <br />temperature, precipitation and evaporation) that are available in electronic form. Compile <br />data and perform analysis to characterize their coverage, statistical properties and <br />relationships, if any, to developments and policies identified in Task 2.1. <br />Task 2.3 Identify alternative study periods based on data availability, significant water <br />resource developments, and quality of available information. <br />A number of factors govern the selection of the RGDSS study period, including streamflow, climate <br />and diversion data availability, key climate events, and key water development and administration <br />events. This memo discusses each of these factors and provides recommendations for the RGDSS <br />study period and alternative study periods. <br />Data Availability <br />Ultimately, the RGDSS study period must be limited by the data available to represent or synthesize <br />historical conditions (e.g. demands and inflows). The main time-variable data types required for <br />modeling efforts are diversions, streamflows, temperature, precipitation, groundwater elevations, <br />groundwater pumping, cropping and irrigated acreage. Other data, such as snow course measurements, <br />may be useful for a potential forecasting component of the model, but they are not addressed here. <br />The data presented in the following tables are intended to build on work and data presented in the Rio <br />Grande Decision Support System Feasibility Study, rather than to simply reproduce it. The streamflow <br />and climate summaries are based on complete years only and hence contain fewer station-years than <br />were listed in the feasibility study. Data from partial years might be useful in synthesizing missing <br />months, but inclusion of them in the statistical summaries would be misleading. <br />C:Acdss\Task2-3.doc Identify Study Period April 16, 1999 Page 1 of 18 <br />