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GUNNISON BASIN <br /> Basinwide Conditions Assessment: 1 <br /> The SWSI value of-0.9 indicates that the basin water SURFACE WATER SUPPLY INDEX <br /> supply is slightly above normal. Snowpack measured 87% of 5 Gunnison River Basin <br /> average on April 1, 1991. Snow water equivalency is ,_ <br /> approximately 14 inches. Precipitation for the month was 3- , <br /> only 210% of average and is 121% of average for the water _ . <br /> year. Basinwide reservoir storage is 152% of average. Blue <br /> Mesa Reservoir contents (usable) measured 628,000 acre-feet 1 1- �" :; „== 4 <br /> on April 1, 1991. Taylor Park Reservoir contents (usable) oiiqr:. - 'Yof <br /> measured 70,700 acre-feet. Although basinwide reservoir Jft_1- ti Ii, 1 '` <br /> storage is considerably above average, a series of reservoirs ,. _ ! , <br /> located on the south side of Grand Mesa near Cedaredge are n ft �� .' <br /> at only 35-50% of capacity. Crawford Reservoir storage ''- <br /> (usable) was only 5,800 acre-feet on April 1, 1991, as -4 <br /> JAN61 JAN67 JAN63 JAN64 JAN65 JAN64 JAN67 JAN66 .JANB6 JAN60 JAN61 <br /> compared to the average for that date of 10,200 acre-feet. MONTW TEAS <br /> Overall, streamflow was near normal for the month <br /> throughout the basin. Flow at the key gaging station, <br /> Uncompahgre River near Ridgway, averaged 78 cfs for the <br /> month as compared to the historic monthly flow of 61 cfs. <br /> • UNCOMPAHGRE RIVER NR, RIDGWAY <br /> FLOW BY WATER YEAR <br /> Outlook: 32 — <br /> Precipitation received in the March-May period is 30 <br /> 28 <br /> critical relative to recharging ground water supplies and 25 <br /> replenishing soil moisture. Late summer streamflow is highly i 42 - <br /> dependent on this water in storage. The past three years of + 22 <br /> 20 • / <br /> drought have seriously depleted ground water in storage as a I ,e <br /> observed by diminished flow of springs. Although the March ..F 16 <br /> precipitation has improved the situation, it will take several ;Z fir �r <br /> months of above average precipitation to eliminate the deficit. 10 - <br /> The streamflow forecast is lowest in Muddy Creek above 6 <br /> 6 <br /> Paonia Reservoir at just 64% of average and highest in the <br /> Uncompahgre River drainage above Ridgway Reservoir at 91% 2 <br /> OCt Nov O.e Jan Fed MYrch <br /> of average. The streamflow forecast on the Gunnison River WIRTH <br /> mainstem above Blue Mesa is 79% of average. ter"'°" + DRY`167' A <br /> Administrative/Management Concerns: <br /> Normal operating power generation releases from the <br /> Aspinal Unit (Blue Mesa, Morrow Point and Crystal Gunnison River Basin Reservoir Supplies <br /> Reservoirs) are planned. SO <br /> 70- \• <br />• Public Use Impacts: <br /> Water-based recreation will be sustained at Blue Mesa i 60- <br /> Reservoir and in the Gunnison River below the reservoir. b, 58 , <br /> //\ <br /> I.I .O <br /> MlJ _//\\ <br /> " a 30 <br /> i <br /> 3 20/\N.\ <br /> 10 / <br /> 0 ln\ ri///I,,,, <br /> lay l or Perk Q'..fard Frul t l and <br /> ® Avg 3/31 Contents ® 3/31/S1 Conunu <br /> 6 <br />