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<br />GUNNISON BASIN <br /> <br />Basinwide Conditions Assessment <br />The SWSI value of 0.0 indicates that for May the <br />basin water supplies were normal Flow at the gaging station <br />UnCOmpahgre River near Ridgway was 360 cfs, as <br />compared to the long-term average of 325 cfs Storage in <br />Taylor Park, Crawford. and Fruitland reservoirs totaled 121% <br />of normal as of the end of May_ <br /> <br />Outlook <br />After a dry March, a wet April, and a cool month of <br />May, the snowpack is still below normal, although II appears <br />to better than most other baSins in Ihe state_ The cooler <br />weather in May allowed the snow to melt at a slower rate. <br />saving (I for June when It can be more beneficially used <br /> <br />AdministratlVe/ManaQement Concerns <br />The cooler weather in May has delayed Ihe filling of <br />some reservoirs Most reservoirs on the Grand Mesa should <br />fill. providing much.needed late season Irrigation for fields <br />and orchards. The forecasted inflows to Taylor Park <br />Reservoir were reduced in May, based on the lack of <br />moisture in lale April and early May _ The May winds have <br />seemed to reduced the runoff amounts as well. At Blue <br />Mesa, the reservoir is steadily gaining and should continue <br />Ihroughout the Month of June It will nol come close 10 filling, <br />probably only about 80 to 85% of full <br />The fluctuations in stream flows in May are usually <br />substantial, Increasing during warm periods and drastically <br />decreasing when a cold spell comes This year, It has been <br />fairly steady, making (t much easier to administer the water <br />rights on the small creeks. Smce the runoff is still below <br />normal. the local calls will likely occur earlier than normal this <br />year, and water rights will be shut off earlier as a result A <br />call on the upper Gunnison River from the Gunnison Tunnel <br />is stili not anticipated this year. but condlllons could change. <br />There will likely be a cart on the upper Uncompahgre River <br />later this summer. <br /> <br />Public Use Impacts <br />Overall, this IS a better water supply year than last <br />year. Irrigators are sllll likely to feel the effects of the <br />continued drought, although It will be less than the last few <br />years Recreations use of the reservoirs will be good. but <br />flows will be below normal for rafters and kayakers_ <br /> <br />Jun.Q4 <br /> <br />--. <br /> <br /> <br />, <br /> <br />" <br /> <br />. <br />--~---"_-.JJ"""__-oo <br />.."""....... <br /> <br />lJ.co.J'AH:l'E~'P ~y Fl~l:l'r'Mrm'rE"il <br /> <br />~~ <br /> <br />~~. <br /> <br />-, <br /> <br />- . <br /> <br />11Il,CXXI. <br />, <br />!OO~. <br />:"::!llrm. <br />~' . <br />, <br />~ClCXXI' <br />" <br />~:J)OO'Jj <br />, <br />. <br />:;>:IlJOO'J. . <br />U '. <br />10{XJl. _~1~- t <br />.~ <br />" <br />()J '- Coo;: .R' <br /> <br />+ / <br />-/ <br />. T /;1- <br /># <br />~. <br />.....,;:.;---- =---",- <br />,. .- <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />~ <br /> <br />~. <br /> <br />... <br /> <br />"" <br /> <br /> <br />6 <br />