PROJ00081

• Contract/PO #: C153691
• Contractor Name: Lloyd Ranch Limited Partnership
• Contract Type: Loan
• Water District: 72
• County: Mesa
• Bill Number: HB 91-1006
• Loan Projects - Doc Type: Feasibility Study

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There is no one well-defined stream which enters Rapid
Creek #2. There is a short stream between Rapid Creek #2 and
#1. Runoff water appears to flow into the two reservoirs
through a series of small channels scattered irregularly
around the perimeter of each reservoir.

E. CLIMATE.

The climate of the upper Rapid Creek drainage basin and
the Grand Mesa as a whole, can be described as cool and
moist. The nearest weather station representative of the
area is located at Mesa Lakes Resort, approximately 15 miles
to the east. This station was only operated for a short
period in the 1970's, and the only data which could be
obtained was for the years 1974 to 1976. This is summarized
in Table 1.

The two closest weather stations with long range data
are located at Collbran on the north side of Grand Mesa at an
elevations of 6,000 feet, an4 Cedaredge on the south side of
Grand Mesa, at an elevation of 6200 feet. Temperature
records from these stations indicate that the years 1974 and
1976 were approximately one 4egree below the average annual
norm.

Isohyetal maps for the state of Colorado indicated the
follOWing for the upper RapiO Creek drainage (based on 30
years of records):

October thru April preclpitation - 16 inches
May thru September precipitation - 11 inches
Total annual precipitation - 27 inches

Almost all of the October thru April precipitation falls
in the form of snowfall. The Soil Conservation Service
maintains a snow course at Mesa Lakes. The deepest
accumulations have occured on April 1st, with an average snow
depth of 56 inches. Althoug~ they are approximately the same
elevation, and have approximately the same winter time
precipitation, snow accumulations at the Rapid Creek
reservoir site may be different from those at Mesa Lakes.
The Rapid Creek reservoir area has much higher wind exposure
and there is considerable drlfting in the area, The owners
have started a snow course and are taking measurements;
however, there is inadequate data to draw any conclusions at
this time,

The reservoirs are filled primarily by runoff from
snowmelt, which generally occurs in the period from April 15
thru July 1. However, maximum instantaneous inflows to the
reservoirs will occur from summertime rainfall precipitation.

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