DWR_4151727

• Title: JULY 1993 SWSI: COLORADO WATER SUPPLY CONDITIONS UPDATE, SURFACE WATER SUPPLY INDEX
• Year: 1993
• Document Type - Publications and Reports: SWSI Monthly Report

SAN JUAN/DOLORES/ANIMAS BASIN
Basinwide Conditions Assessment:
The SWSI value of+2.1 indicates that for June basin SAN JUAN/DOLORES/ANIMAS RIVER BASINS
Surface Water Supply Index HlCtory
water supplies were above normal. Storage in McPhee, 5
Vallecito, and Lemon reservoirs totaled 125% of normal on
June 30. Flow at the gaging station Animas River near •w 3 c
Durango averaged 3,885 cfs as compared to the 1961-1991 I , ; j_, .4
,
June average of 2,528 cfs. Low temperatures at Durango were 2 i : ; A.. : :5
higher than typical, there was no freeze, while at the same '- _ ;
time the high temperatures were below normal. Only about ° "I NM I i� 'i/ �I :, i "
•
30%of average rain fell across the entire area in June, which _ I�{I0
is normaly the driest month, and soil moisture was being 1111
a _2—
depleted rapidly at the end of the month. The hay crop was
good and cut without interference from rain. 3-
JANB4 JANBS JANB6 JANB7 JANBB JANB9 JAN90 JAN91 JAN92 JAN93
Administrative/Management Concerns: MONTH/YEAR
The runoff has been excellently distributed in the
major streams. A cool spell early in the month as well as
cloud cover in the high mountains curtailed snow melt until
late June. Most area streams ran total flows above normal
such as 135% of normal on the Animas, 163% of normal on ANIMAS RIVER NR. DURANGO
the Dolores, and 120%of normal on the La Plata. Peak flows , FLOW BY WATER YEAR
occurred on May 28 but streams experianced a rise in June 0.9
from high elevation runoff. Streams are again dropping, but
reamin very high. Reservoirs were filled and remained full atI 0,
month's end. Major spills occurred only at MePhee Reservoir.
.n 0 6
Jam'
a_ °5
Public Use Impacts: W
�v .4
Conditions for recreational rafting were the best s
experianced in recent memory. High flows were not so high °3 •
as to stop rafting, spill flows were managed for benefit of °2
rafting on the Dolores River. Fish species co-mingling was °
discouraged but could not be prevented entirely. At the end ° "'ms
Oct Nov Dec Jan Fob Moron April Iry June July Aug Sept
of the month fishing became a more common pastime. Hikers ,,D„TH
CI WET
found long early trips into the back country difficult because "973' ° DIV "' A AVG A 1593
of major slides but weather remained excellent for campers.
REPRESENTATIVE RESERVOIRS
OOLORES-ANIMAS RIVER BASINS
400
350-
:::
y_.
•
V rY
•n
.F
a n 200
a�
kF
17,
150
a /
co
so
,,„v
WPM.. VaIIecIto Lemon
L L Avg. 6/30 Contents 6/30/93 Contents
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