DWR_4151794

• Title: JULY 1991 SWSI: COLORADO WATER SUPPLY CONDITIONS UPDATE, SURFACE WATER SUPPLY INDEX
• Year: 1991
• Document Type - Publications and Reports: SWSI Monthly Report

GUNNISON BASIN
Basinwide Conditions Assessment:
The SWSI value of+1.2 indicates that the basin water SURFACE WATER SUPPLY INDEX
supply is above normal. Precipitation for the month was 99% 5 Gunn]son RI war Burn
of average but is 109% of average for the water year. i
Basinwide reservoir storage is 124% of average. Taylor Park W g L 7
Reservoir contents (usable) measured 100,500 acre-feet on • .- -..1
July 1, 1991. Overall, streamflow began falling off in latet 1, 74 17:
June causing shortages in Hot Spring Creek and upper i =:
Cochetopa Creek. Flow at the key index gaging station, _ Q r �'li ir,... 11-iUncompahgre River near Rid a , avers ed 600 cfs for the _,_
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month as compared to the historic monthly flow of 609 cfs. z i
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Peak flow of 1015 cfs was recorded on June 9, 1991. o ,
Reservoirs on the Grand Mesa (District 40) only filled to 70% -3-
of capacity. -. .. _J _ .............
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WMW TEAR
Outlook:
The water supply for the basin is reasonably good.
May and June are traditionally very dry months in the
Gunnison basin. Precipitation increases in July and August
typically lowering demand for irrigation water. Irrigation UNCOMPAHGRE RIVER NR, R I DGWAY
supplies will be below average for the Grand Mesa area and FIOW EN'WATER `AR
average for the rest of the basin. ;
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Administrative/Management Concerns: . '
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It is expected that there will be continued et 130 �1
administration needed between surface water rights and a 1 ;�
reservoir storage rights on the south side of the Grand Mesa. .1 .0
By July 1 only senior direct flow rights on Surface Creek and �" o . -
other tributaries off the Grand Mesa were being satisfied. r so ��
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Public Use Impacts: 4 -
Water-based recreation will be sustained at Blue Mesa
Oct Nov Doc Jan Fab ►arch April 14Y Jun. Ju I Aug Soot
Reservoir and in the Gunnison River below the reservoir. The uzsrrm
Colorado Division of Wildlife arranged with the Bureau of `""' C1877, a AVG a 14e1
Reclamation for additional releases from Blue Mesa Reservoir
to flush out sediments in the Gunnison Gorge to improve
aquatic habitat. The flush reached a high of 5,400 cfs on
June 21, 1991, and averaged 3,200 cfs for the month. Gunnison R i ver Basin Reservoir Supplies
Releases will be reduced to 1000 cfs for the month of July. 11G
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