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<br />RIO GRANDE BASIN
<br />
<br />Basinwide Conditions Assessment
<br />The SWSI value of 3,1 indicates that for May the
<br />basin water supplies were above normal. The Natural
<br />Resources Conservation Service reports that June 1
<br />snowpack was 119% of normal. Storage in Platoro, Rio
<br />Grande, and Santa Maria reservoirs totaled 117% of normal
<br />as of the end of May,
<br />Flow at the gaging station Rio Grande near Del Norte
<br />averaged 3,899 cfs (155% of normal), The Conejos River near
<br />Mogote had a mean flow of 1,309 cfs (118% of normal),
<br />Stream flow in the Rio Grande at the Colorado I New Mexico
<br />stateline were 166% of normal. This was expected, as
<br />Coiorado's water delivery obligation to New Mexico and Texas
<br />is in excess of 500,000 acre-feet this year,
<br />Precipitation in San Luis Valiey was beiow normai
<br />during the month, Temperatures were generaliy weli above
<br />normal during May, which promoted the high runoff, Stream
<br />flow was weli above average throughout the basin during the
<br />latter part of May,
<br />
<br />Outlook
<br />NRCS stream flow forecasts are predicting April -
<br />September runoff volumes from 106% to 182% of average for
<br />the Division's larger drainages, Based on the unusualiy high
<br />volumes seen in May, these predictions seem to be valid,
<br />Although most streams had already reached peak flow by the
<br />end of the month, administrators expect a prolonged runoff,
<br />
<br />Administrative/Manaqement Concerns
<br />Last year's drought and extreme use of the Valley's
<br />aquifers has created a "hole" in the system that is requiring a
<br />great deal of water to fill. A surprisingly large portion of the
<br />runoff is recharging this void, Thus, return flows to the system
<br />are much lower than normaliyexpected,
<br />Severe curtaiiment of available native flows is
<br />necessary this year to meet Colorado's delivery requirement
<br />under the Rio Grande Compact, Currently, over 25% of the
<br />indexed native flows on the Rio Grande and Conejos are being
<br />passed through the system to the state line,
<br />After a "cool" start to the month of May, a heat wave
<br />mid-month really got things rolling in the entire Rio Grande
<br />basin, Very high stream flow was experienced in almost every
<br />drainage, Flooding was localized and thankfully, minimal,
<br />considering the potential for damaging flows, Much of the
<br />credit for minimizing flooding should go to cooperative efforts
<br />between the reservoir owners and water administrators,
<br />Mother Nature lent a hand aiso, just as flows were reaching
<br />peak stage, a cooling trend in the weather reduced stream flow
<br />to safe levels,
<br />
<br />Public Use Impacts
<br />The pleasant weather conditions and abundant water
<br />supplies have been a boon to the local farmers and ranchers,
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