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RIO GRANDE BASIN <br /> Basinwide Conditions Assessment: ' <br /> The SWSI value of +1.8 indicates that for December RIO GRANDE BASIN <br /> the basin water supplies were above normal. The National 5 Surface Mtt.r Supply Index"Iatery <br /> Weather Service reports December precipitation at 99% of ,_ <br /> average. The Soil Conservation Service reports January 1 K <br /> . 3-snowpack at 123%of average. Flow at the gaging station,Rio <br /> Grande near Del Norte, averaged 172 cfs for the month as 2- <br /> compared to the 1961-1990 December average of 190 cfs. 1 1 i--I <br /> I ' <br /> Basin wide reservoir storage was at 100% of average on i 0 flizi,,,' N.'January 1. December was a very cold month for the valley, ,_ ,+ <br /> with the average temperature being almost 13 degrees below Y "�" ,!' <br /> 6 _2_ <br /> normal. Only three days were at or above freezing, and three o <br /> record lows were set or tided. Precipitation was mainly -5- <br /> caused by a winter storm on December 11-12 that dumped 5.7 <br /> JANG3 JANB4 JANSS JAN66 JA167 JAN94 JANB9 JAN90 JANG1 JANB2 <br /> inches of snow in Alamosa. Other small storms brought the YEAR/MOWN <br /> total Alamosa snowfall to 8.9 inches. <br /> Outlook: <br /> The streamflows in the basin were at or near base <br /> flow levels. On December 31 the Rio Grande near Del Norte RIO GRANDE NR. DELNORTE <br /> FLOW BY WATER YEAR <br /> was at 170 cfs, and the Conejos near Mogote was at 48 cfs. 170 <br /> These flows are expected to decrease slightly because January 160 <br /> 150 <br /> is typically colder than December. 140 <br /> a 130 �- <br /> l1Y0 <br /> Administrative/Management Concerns: in 110 <br /> Almost all of the canals and ditches have shut off for a <br /> the winter, but a few on the Rio Grande system are running 'g G0 <br /> recharge water. There was no curtailment on the Rio Grande 70 <br /> erZ''''''''''ll <br /> or Conejos Rivers during December since projections indicate 50 —� <br /> that the compact obligations will be fulfilled. Reservoir 40 <br /> contents this fall were substantially lower than average. As of 20 <br /> December all reservoirs used for irrigation were storing at a <br /> Oct Nov 0ae Jan Rob Margin <br /> near normal rates. However,an above average snowpack will MONTH <br /> MET YEAR(1067) + car YEAR(1677) a AVG a 119 <br /> have to be maintained through the winter to prevent a <br /> shortage of late season irrigation water next year. <br /> Public Use Impacts <br /> Because of currently above average snowpack, REPRESENTATIVE RESERVOIRS <br /> residents and tourists alike are enjoying great winter sports 20 RIO GRANDE BASIN <br /> \ <br /> and activities. Snow skiing,snowmobiling,and ice fishing are 18- <br /> 17- <br /> just a few of the more popular of the winter activities in the 16_ x! <br /> valley and surrounding mountains. i „13- <br /> AA <br /> §2 <br /> s la <br /> asti L E <br /> S <br /> 432 <br /> , /./.4N.,..\\\ <br /> . /\ /\ <br /> Rlo Grande 9IRtaro SantaMarI. <br /> ® AVQ. 12/31 Contents ® 12/31/91 Content■ <br /> 5 <br />