BOARD02075

• Board Meeting Date: 5/22/2000
• Description: WSP Section - Colorado River Basin Issues - San Juan Basin Section 7 Consultation Issues
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

RIO GRANDE BASIN

Basinwide Conditions Assessment
The SWSI value of -2.4 indicates that for April the
basin water supplies were below normal. The Natural
_Resources Conservation Service reports that May 1
owpack is 35% of normal.
Flow at the gaging station Rio Grande near Del
Norte averaged 815 cis (123% of normal). The Conejos
River near Mogote had a mean flow of 235 cfs (73% of
normal). Flow to the state line was only 35% of normal as
upstream diversions for irrigation needs continued.
Alamosa received precipitation totaling 0.60 inches
during April, 0.11 inches above normal. Temperatures in the
San Luis Valley were above normal levels for the sixth month
in a row. Heavy winds exceeding 60 miles per hour buffeted
the area on April 18 severely hampering fire-fighting efforts as
5500 acres burned near the Sand Dunes National Monument.

Outlook
NRCS forecasts are now predicting runoff to be only
61 % of average on the Rio Grande near Del Norte and 55%
for the Conejos near Mogote. Other drainages of particular
concern are the A1amosa River (52%) and LaJara Creek (44%)
where runoff will be early and diminished.
Based on these forecasts, water users in the basin
who are reliant on stream flow for irrigation and stock watering
needs should expect extremely limited availability.

Administrative/Manaoement Concerns
Water rights were not being curtailed on the Rio
Grande or the Conejos during April. It appears that no
.rtailment will be necessary on these drainages to make
ter available for Rio Grande Compact deliveries in 2000.
With only the most senior water rights able to divert
throughout the summer, massive pumping from the valley's
aquifers will be necessary to meet demand.

Public Use Imoacts
Miid weather conditions allowed many farmers to begin
working in the fields well ahead of normal years. The expected
well below average stream flow will adversely affect the
farming, ranching, and recreational industries in the basin.

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