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GUNNISON BASIN
<br /> Basinwide Conditions Assessment:
<br /> The SWSI value of-1.2 indicates that the basin water SURFACE WATER SUPPLY INDEX
<br /> supply is below normal. Snowpack measured 67%of average . - Gun.......R..-°"'"
<br /> on March 1, 1991. However, this is 125% above last year's 4_
<br /> snowpack. Precipitation for the month was only 61% of
<br /> average. Basinwide reservoir storage is 152%. Blue Mesa 3 N i i
<br /> Reservoir contents (usable) measured 626,920 acre-feet on 2" * ; ' , r 1 .
<br /> March 1, 1991. Taylor Park Reservoir contents (usable) ; 1- `� •, z: N I,
<br /> measured 73,115 acre-feet. Although basinwide reservoir i a N N��" •' I«�,' j
<br /> storage is considerably above average, a series of reservoirs .,_ t : i
<br /> located on the south side of Grande Mesa near Cedaredge are _ v. ""�
<br /> at only 35-50% of capacity. Overall, streamflow was near a -2 N
<br /> normal for the month throughout the basin. Flow at the key ''r
<br /> gaging station, Uncompahgre Riven near Ridgway, averaged , — �._
<br /> 4MM1 J MG2 J.I113 JMP114 .JAMS JAM.. JAIM7 JAN.{ JAN.. JAN41 JAM.,
<br /> 47 cfs for the month matching the historic monthly flow. A ,,Q,,,,,,,,,u,
<br /> series of winter storms during the first week of March
<br /> improved the basinwide snowpack by an estimated 13% of
<br /> average.
<br /> Outlook: UNCOMPAHGRE RIVER NR. RIOGWAY
<br /> Precipitation received in the March-May period is 2.,- "°' "T�'AMA
<br /> 23 J,
<br /> critical relative to recharging ground water supplies and 22
<br /> 21
<br /> replenishing soil moisture. Late summer streamflow is highly m
<br /> dependent on this water in storage. The past three years of I ;:
<br /> 4„,„.....„),..„-:......„ 777-e -A
<br /> drought have seriously depleted ground water in storage as b,, ,. "
<br /> observed by diminished flow of springs. The strearnflow a 1 14 13
<br /> forecast is lowest in Muddy Creek above Paonia Reservoir at ;.i.
<br /> _J
<br /> just 50% of average and highest in the Uncompahgre River ;"
<br /> drainage above Ridgway Reservoir at 81% of average. The ' 4,,,,,,,,,
<br /> streamflow forecast on the Gunnison River mainstem above
<br /> Blue Mesa is 68% of average.
<br /> act . 4c Jan F4a wren
<br /> Administrative/Management Concerns: 14314111
<br /> a MT C M114) T L3>T C 111777 o A"Q A 1301
<br /> Reservoirs are utilizing senior storage rights with the
<br /> exception of municipal water decrees which are primarily
<br /> junior. Normal operating power generation releases from the
<br /> Aspinal Unit (Blue Mesa, Morrow Point and Crystal
<br /> Reservoirs) are planned.
<br /> Gunnison River Basin Reservoir Supplies
<br /> Public Use Impacts: .a
<br /> Water-based recreation has been sustained at Blue ,�_
<br /> Mesa Reservoir and in the Gunnison River below the reservoir.
<br /> Snowfall in early March enhanced winter recreation i °°
<br /> opportunities in the basin. 50-
<br /> 11 4°7/.\
<br /> ai: ../.7\\
<br /> 30
<br /> 3 2°
<br /> 1a \
<br /> Tay tar Park Crawl Ord fruit land
<br /> ® Avp, 2/28 Cantant■ ICQ 2,2Na1 Conta"tf
<br /> 6
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