SWSIReportJuly2004

• Title: Colorado Water Supply Conditions Report
• Date: 7/27/2004
• Description: Presentation
• Basin: Statewide
• Drought Mitigation - Doc Type: Presentation

RIO GRANDE BASIN

Basinwide Conditions Assessment
The SWSI value of -1.4 indicates that for June the
basin water supplies were below normal. Flow at the gaging
station Rio Grande near Del Norte averaged 2214 cfs (70%
of normal). The Conejos River near Mogote had a mean
flow of 849 cfs (65% of normal). Storage in Platoro. RIO
Grande, and Santa Maria reservoirs totaled 40% of normal
as of the end of June.
PreCipItation in Alamosa was only 0 42 inches and
most of that occurred in one event on June 30. For nearly
seven weeks from May 2 through June 21, Alamosa
received no measurable precipitation in town. Dry, windy
conditions persisted throughout the month. Soil moisture
conditions in non-irrigated areas are poor and stream flow
throughoutlhe basin was below average

Outlook
Although some areas of Ihe San Luis Valley did
receive significant precipitation during June, generous
amounts of rainfall will be needed in the near future to neutralize
the damage done 10 crop and rangeland by the drought-like
conditions.

Administratlve/ManaQement Concerns
As the natural flow dropped in area streams, some
ditches relied on reservoir releases to offset the dry conditions.
However. by the end of the month, reservoir releases to dltches
on the Rio Grande had ceased. Well use for irngation was very
high. OffICials are concemed that the large amount of water
pumped could reverse the early trend this year toward
recharging the severely depleted aquifers. Cool and dry
weather condrtions will be responsible for reduced Yields on first
cutllng of grass and alfalfa crops

Public Use Impacts
Weather conditions in June had a great deal of local
economIC impact through reduced crop development and yield.
The consistent wind of this late spnng became imtallng to most
San Luis Valley inhabitants

Jul-Q4

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