Laserfiche WebLink
<br />, <br /> <br />SAN JiJAN/DOLORES BASIN <br /> <br />Basinwide Conditions Assessment <br />The SWSI value of +0.8 indicates that for December <br />the basin water supplies were near normal. The. Natural <br />Resources Conservation Service reports that January 1 <br />snowpack is 109% of normal. Flow at the gaging station <br />Animas River near Durango was 321 cfs, as compared to <br />the long-term average of 228 cfs. Storage in McPhee, <br />Vallecito, and Lemon reservoirs totaled 88% of normal as of <br />the end of December. <br />Southwestern Colorado experienced improved water <br />conditions for December 2004, The early part of the month <br />was very dry and warm. Temperatures in Durango averaged <br />5 degrees above the normal low. A cold spell occurred just <br />before Christmas, dropping the temperature to near zero. <br />After Christmas, weather patterns changed a bit. A storm on <br />December 29th brought rain to the lower elevations and <br />contributed significantly to the mountain snow pack. The <br />total precipitation for Durango was 1.87 inches, which was <br />130% of normal. The mountain snow accumulation rose to <br />109% by the end of the month, which was similar to the <br />previous year. The soil moisture content was good to <br />excellent by the end of the month. <br />The Animas ran 321 cfs average flow compared to <br />the normal 222 cfs. The Dolores River was less than normal. <br />The La Plata River was at a base flow slightly above normal, <br />giving the upper ditches and Red Mesa Ward Reservoir an <br />opportunity to use water. <br />Reservoir Storage remained the same with Lemon <br />Reservoir and McPhee Reservoir containing below average <br />carryover. Vallecito contained 159% of normal storage with <br />76,000 acre-feet. <br /> <br />Outlook <br />The Pine River drainage is likely to provide water <br />needed to fill Vallecito Reservoir next spring. <br /> <br />Public Use Imoacts <br />Snow and winter recreation activities were <br />proceeding well and residents were optimistic that the area <br />would experience some recovery from the drought this year. <br /> <br /> <br />..."""" <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />, <br /> <br />~ <br />~ <br />r <br />-., <br /> <br />~ <br />~ <br /> <br />~ <br /> <br />Jan-05 <br /> <br />""'"""" <br /> <br />. <br />J;ne6.Ji1n411.J;n{m..lorl<<lJin.OOJin{)1~Jan.(I3.&...04Jcn.05 <br /> <br />ANM\S R\ffi foR ~ R!JN BY V\Alffi 't6OR <br /> <br /> <br />9 <br /> <br />