Laserfiche WebLink
<br />-r <br /> <br />WATER SUPPLY FORECASTING <br /> <br />Snow surveys have been made in the Rio Grande Basin since 1935. This <br />cooperative program provides a means of water supply forecasting. Water <br />from melting snow provides as much as 80% of the total water for the <br />basin. Underground storage fluctuates with the snowpack. <br /> <br />Hav i ng advanced knowl edge of water supp 1"i es enables the ranchers, <br />farmers, and other water users to better utilize their water. <br /> <br />There are 20 snow courses in the basin and a number in immediately <br />adjacent drainages (Table E-l and Figure E-l). Snow courses are pro- <br />tected areas where snow is measured periodically in exactly the same <br />spot. Many of these courses have been manually read since 1935. <br /> <br />A new automatic system called SNOTEL will be activated this year (1977). <br />These sites (Figure E-2) will measure snow water equivalent, utilizing <br />stainless steel pillows as the sensor, precipitation, and temperature. <br />Readings will be taken automatically once a day in the early morning. <br />Other readings can be taken on demand. <br /> <br />SNOTEL is using a radio transmitting and receiving method called meteor <br />burst. A radio signal originating at a master station keys remote sites <br />by reflecting the signal from the ionized track of a meteorite entering <br />the earth's atmosphere. The remote site responds to the signal and <br />reports hydrometeorological data at the site. The sites answer in order <br />of priority over the entire western states. Master stations will be <br />located at Boise, Idaho, and Ogden, Utah. One will be used as back-up <br />in case of failure of the other. <br /> <br />The master stations will be controlled by the technical center in <br />Portland. Data will be screened for accuracy and transmitted to the <br />headquarters of the Soil Conservation Service (SCS) in each state. <br /> <br />Seven SNOTEL sites will be located in the Rio Grande or immediately <br />adjacent drainages. <br /> <br />Streams originating on the western side of the basin are characterized <br />by high winter snows and relatively low summer precipitation. <br /> <br />Forecasts are extremely important and accurate under these conditions. <br /> <br />Streams in the northern end of the basin originate at relatively low <br />elevations and provide little runoff. The Sangre de Cristo Mountains on <br />the eastern side of the valley are high, but have limited snow storage <br />area. They provide only limited water supplies. <br /> <br />Water supply bulletins are issued each month February through April. <br />Special reports are issued January I, May 15 and June 1. <br /> <br />r,.' i...!:' <br />t.l \.. U' <br /> <br />E-1 <br />