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' GUNNISON BASIN <br /> Basinwide Conditions Assessment: I <br /> The SWSI value of +3.8 indicates that for April the GUNNISON RIVER BASIN <br /> Slrface oats', Si.pply Index History <br /> basin water supplies were well above normal. The Soil 5 <br /> Conservation Service reports April 30 snowpack at 166% of 4 <br /> normal. Storage in Taylor Park, Crawford, and Fruitland W 3 �, <br /> reservoirs totaled 116% of normal on April 30. The National a-'`` r -1 ' <br /> Weather Service reports April precipitation at 105%of normal. 2 , <br /> Flow at the gaging station Uncompahgre River near Ridgway :. <br /> averaged 134 cfs as compared to the 1961-1991 April average o ° '---- - - -0 ,�_ , <br /> of 107 cfs. _,_ �� - �, <br /> Water supply for the basin is extremely high due to <br /> heavy winter snowfall and a cool spring which has delayed o <br /> snowmelt. Snowpack on Grand Mesa is extremely high,with 3- <br /> snow water equivalents (SWE) of 325% of average at Mesa <br /> JAN64 JANBS JAN86 JMNE7 JAN66 JANa9 JAN90 JAN91 JAN92 JAH93 <br /> Lakes and 167% of average at Park Reservoir. The area of MOWRY YEAR <br /> high snow extends eastward to Crested Butte, which has a <br /> SWE of 229%of average. While the available snow promises <br /> good water supplies this summer the immediate concern is <br /> potential flooding. Current readings of snowpack taken by <br /> basin administrators on Grand Mesa as compared to average UNCOMPAHGRE RIVER NR. R I DGWAY <br /> FLOW BY WATER YEAR <br /> are as follows: 34 <br /> 32 <br /> 30 <br /> Total Inches % of 20 <br /> Site Elev. of Snow SWE Avg. _, 25 <br /> 24 <br /> Shaw Pasture 8320 22.0 11.0 274% § 22 <br /> Cole #5 Res. 8800 42.0 20.3 187% s l 20 <br /> Marcott Res. 9600 87.6 42.8 171% !i ,a <br /> Leon Lake 10400 116.3 52.5 158% _ 1 <br /> 4 <br /> Park Res. 10000 ' 99.0 45.5 127% I ,o ----- <br /> a <br /> As can be seen from the above table the percentage of : , <br /> average is much higher at the lower elevations. There has 2 <br /> Ott Nov Ose Jan Fab March Apr II <br /> been very little melt of this lower snow pack due to continued WHIN <br /> cool weather. In the remainder of both the Gunnison and San ° "0a`' ' DRY`1977) ° AVG X 7553 <br /> Miguel basins, the snowpack moisture is from 130 to 160 <br /> percent of normal. The only exception to the extremely high <br /> snowpack is an area south of Gunnison which is near normal. <br /> REPRESENTATIVE RESERVOIRS <br /> Administrative/Management Concerns 70 <br /> GUNNISON RIVER BASIN <br /> The exceptional snowpack gives reason to have some <br /> concern about potential flooding on the steams running off 60- <br /> Grand Mesa. The runoff is dependent upon spring weather, i S°f/// <br /> future snow and rainfall, and many other factors. However, + <br /> county emergency preparedness personnel and others are 4 s <br /> working to be prepared in case flooding does become a threat. h g 30 7//\ <br /> The extremely high snowpack has caused the Bureau of <br /> n <br /> Reclamation to increase releases from the Aspinall Unit and i 20 <br /> _,-/://-\ <br /> other reservoirs in anticipation of creating some flood control 10 <br /> storage. \ , <br /> ° <br /> Taylor Park Cra ford Fruitland <br /> ® Avg. 4130 Contanta ® 4/30/13 contents <br /> . 6 <br /> • <br />