DWR_4151788 - Laserfiche WebLink

RIO GRANDE BASIN . Basinwide Conditions Assessment The SWSI value of +2.6 indicates that the current SURFACE WATER SUPPLY INDEX conditions are above normal. Conditions have improved a o-"""'" significantly from September 1,1991. Precipitation measured • 9%of average for the month and is 124%of average for the I a it ,. 1 I ___teryear. Flow at the keyindexstation,Rio Grande i i,,,, I 1 gaging � , ; 11 li � . ,Illil I , III i.11 I II,Ii11I near Del Norte averaged 630 cfs for the month as compared "I' ,n I mini, IIIII In111u Iiu I nl LII nil >unnla nusr nlwg I.'inn I III lln}llil IIl IIUl n il' .onlllto the historic monthly average of 484 cfs. Cumulative flow g i I,,I Illnl .I III I minlll Ini i� I,IIn innnll I I n.at this station for the water year was normal. Basin wide $ nI I III II In 111111 11 Ilnnul Inn11 In111111 Ifill I!fII1 II 111 1 IEIIl1!11 IIIIIIIiI I I11I11 ItIfiiI11 I III 1 � r 11111� ' IIII�I j IIIIIIi reservoir storage was at 91% of average on October 1, 1991. ,111, I,I I III Platoro Reservoir decreased storage (usable) to 19,600 acre- 1 Iir .Z I ij feet. The month of September brought a mixed bag of • `II weather to the Rio Grande Basin. A week-long period of 'I' intense storm activity increased stream flows significantly in .♦ 441017 .Iwo .,w.. Jams Amos .awn .,rw. .Ills.. .w121 ter.+ the Valley. As a result, Rio Grande at Del Norte flows ,I.►w. . quadrupled during that period. This caused several problems concerning Rio Grande Compact administration. Despite the weather, potato harvest is in full swing and should be completed by mid-October. The rest of the month was • relatively dry and many users will try to finish their fall R I o GRANDE NR. DELNORTE irrigating prior to the first hard freeze. - ''`4t'"'am vow Outlook: ••• The streams in Division III have returned to base flows 1 Ls since the rainfall has subsided. Reservoir releases for ' 8•7irrigation are complete for the year and storage should begin (iIL1LT 6.4 about November 1, 1991. The natural flow on October 1,1991 was 400 cfs at the Rio Grande near Del Norte gage and100 cfs at the Conejos near Mogote gage. These flows arenear normal for the period and we expect that normal flowsould continue through the end of the month. Reservoircontents have been substantially depleted throughout the 00. err 0.. Am '11, berm" /ril New .w 4Wy w UK irrigation season, and without a good snowpack late season , • water for next year could be very short. There is basically no '"!`"7) `'•"' • �� '~' carryover storage in the irrigation reservoirs in the Rio Grande mainstem which is always a concern. Administrative/Management Concerns: - Rio Grande Basin Reservoir 5upp I i es The increase in the index flows at the Rio Grande r Compact gages caused a temporary change in the curtailment '*- �' to both the Conejos and Rio Grande rivers. Because the n- obligation to the downstream states increased dramatically, i n= /\ larger amounts of water were delivered to keep.current with + "- "- 17 projected delivery requirements. Because of the increased ..1 ;;- deliveries it appears that Colorado will meet the Compact dt ; -d/, obligation to the downstream states. Preparations for the ; AWDI trial, 86CW46, continues to take place. As of this ' 4 //..\\\,/,-\\ s // writing an intense flurry of legal maneuvering is taking place ; for the pretrial conference which has been continued to �� \~ October 10, 1991. The trial is set to begin on October 15, • ale arenas „ate 1991 in the Division III Water Court in Alamosa, Colorado. ® ,r•. ram CAMILAAt. ® Vad.,Ceeteowe Public Use Impacts The public use of the rivers and reservoirs in the Rio Grande Basin is continuing to decline as the fall occurs.Some of the better fishing in the area can be had on several of the ers and lakes. That, coupled with the fall colors, provides an excellent opportunity to enjoy the Rio Grande Basin. 5