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<br />I <br /> <br />and, as a result, the end of March and first <br />of April reports indicated snow packs near <br />normal up to as much as 200%, and guess where? <br />In the Rio Grande Basin: On the average the <br />percentage runs from about 130 to 150 percent. <br />This, of course, means that with anywhere near <br />normal precip during April we will be assured <br />of an abundant water supply from all areas <br />served by snow-melt runoff. The people out in <br />the plains areas aren't quite as well off. <br />Their precips remained below normal and they <br />have had the usual winds and troubles out there. <br />That area is not in anywhere near as good <br />shape. However, the parts that do benefit from <br />snow runoff will be much better off than they <br />have been for the past couple of years. <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />A mass measurement of water levels in <br />about 1,200 wells in the Arkansas Valley was <br />made during the period March 15-26 between <br />Pueblo and the state Line. Personnel from the <br />U.S.G.S. office in Phoenix, Arizona, made re- <br />mote temperature measurements of the Arkansas <br />River on March 31 and April 1, with airborne <br />infra-red equipment. This was done in connec- <br />tion with a series of seepage measurements <br />made by the Surface Water Branch and the State <br />Engineer's office personnel. This infra-red <br />equipment is carried in a plane and they fly <br />at low altitudes, trying to maintain a pretty <br />uniform elevation above the water, and it <br />shows up changes in temperature. The tewpera~. <br />ture data have not been interpreted at this <br />time but it is anticipated that the information <br />will aid in delineating reaches of 'gaining <br />river' due to ground water inflow. We handled <br />this in connection with our seepage runs for <br />two reasons - the two processes complement each <br />other, the seepage runs will help interpret the <br />data from the infra-red charts, and the data <br />from the charts will assist in our future work <br />as far as seepage runs are concerned. The <br />infra-red data will only show 'gaining river'. <br />Where it is losing there will be no change in <br />the river temperature but where there is a <br />'gaining river' at this time of the year when <br />