PUB00027

• Year: 1990
• Title: Final Report Rio Grande Water Supply Study, Phase 1
• CWCB Section: Interstate & Federal
• Author: San Luis Valley Water Conservancy District
• Description: Reconnaissance level determination of the physically and legally available flow at 4 reservoir sites in the Rio Grande Basin upstream of Del Norte, Colorado
• Publications - Doc Type: Brochure

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mountain desert with cool summers and cold winters. Table II-l indicates average

annual temperatures, precipitation, and length of growing seasons at several weather

stations on the valley floor.

Table II-l
Selected Rio Grande Basin Climate Characteristics
1948-1985

Alamosa
Center
Del Norte

Annual Mean
Temperature
(deg F)
41.2
41.0
43.1

Average Annual
Precipitation
(inches)
7.2
6.9
9.8

Growing Season
between 28 deg frosts
(Days/Year)
119
122
144

Temperatures range from the extremely cold (it is not uncommon to have winter

temperatures of 30 degrees below zero) to moderately hot (90 degrees Fahrenheit in

summer) .
scattered

Most of the precipitation on the valley floor comes in the form of

summer afternoon rain showers.

Monthly average temperatures and

precipitation at Alarnosa are presented in Table I1-2.

Table II-2
Monthly Average Annual (1948-1985) Temperature and Precipitation
For Alamosa Weather Station

January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December

Temperature
lOIl
16.0
22.5
31.6
40.8
50.4
59.6
65.0
62.4
55.1
43.7
29.5
18.4
Average 41.3

Precipitation
(inches)
.26
.27
.39
.47
.67
.60
1. 15
1.11
.77
.67
.35
.37
7.08

Total

Areas in the higher elevations of the Rio Grande Basin receive 14 to 45 inches of

annual precipitation while the areas in the foothills receive 9 to 14 inches.

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