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Data Assessment <br />be located near Del Norte, near Saguache, and near Antonito. New stations should also be <br />equipped with wind speed sensors and solar radiation sensors, along with air temperature and <br />precipitation gages. Also, the NWS suggested that additional weather stations located in snow <br />pack areas would help improve runoff forecasts. These issues are discussed further in Chapter <br />5.0. <br />3.7 Snow Surveys <br />Snow data are important data that are used for producing seasonal streamflow forecasts. Both the <br />NWS and the National Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) provide snow measurement <br />products in the upper Rio Grande basin. Data collection includes automated SNOTEL and manual <br />snow course measurements. Available data include: <br />• Percent average of snowpack <br />• Daily SNOTEL data <br />• Comparison against previous years <br />• 30-year average snow water equivalent and percent of average <br />• Monthly snowcourse and SNOTEL averages <br />• Basin-wide summaries <br />Table 3-3 identifies SNOTEL sites. <br />Data Assessment: <br />Historical snow depth is available at twenty-four locations. Nine mountain locations collect snow <br />data that provide information on snow water equivalent. Multisource satellite-based products for <br />snow water equivalent are available from the NWS and are available at a course scale. These <br />averages are compiled from satellite data, airborne gamma radiation, and snow lines. The <br />recording frequency varies from daily to monthly with some information not sampled <br />continuously. These data are summarized monthly and annually. Data quality is described in the <br />agency product release and is a function of collection and weather conditions. <br />TABLE 3-3 <br />SNOTEL Sites <br />Name Elevation <br />Beartown 11,600 <br />Culebra #2 10,500 <br />Cumbres Trestle 10,040 <br />Lily Pond 11,000 <br />Medano Pass 9,700 <br />Middle Creek 11,250 <br />Trinchera 10,859 <br />Upper Rio Grande 9,400 <br />Wolf Creek Summit 11,000 <br />a454/report/fmaUdata. doc 7/2&~OS 3 -10 <br />