DWR_4151824

• Title: SEPTEMBER 1997 SWSI: COLORADO WATER SUPPLY CONDITIONS UPDATE, SURFACE WATER SUPPLY INDEX
• Year: 1997
• Document Type - Publications and Reports: SWSI Monthly Report

RIO GRANDE BASIN September, 1997
Basinwide Conditions Assessment:
The SWSI value of 2.6 indicates that for August the RIO GRANDE BASIN
basin water supplies were above normal. Flow at the gaging 5 Six-face Water co 'Sil Index History
station Rio Grande near Del Norte averaged 1,156 cfs, as 4_
compared to the long term average of 702 cfs. The Conejos 5- .
r _,�
River near Mogote had a mean flow of 338 cfs. Storage in r
Platoro,Rio Grande,and Santa Maria reservoirs totaled 109% 2-
of normal as of the end of August 1- 7 Alamosareceived 0. 2 inches of precipitation during Alain 9 P P �
August,0.20 inches below normal. The high temperature was J
84° in Alamosa, the low 39°, and the average 62.7°, 0.3° -. :f
a -2- 713
above normal.
-3-,
Outlook -4 ,
JANOa JAN89 JAN90 JAN91 JAN92 JAN93 JAN94 JAN95 JAMB JAN97
Stream flows in the Rio Grande, Conejos River, and „E„R„CIlI,i
their tributaries during August were.well above average and
should remain so as long as rainfall in the mountains
continues.
Administrative/Management Concerns RIO GRANDE NR. DELNORTE
What a difference a year can make. Last August the FLOW BY WATER YEAR
upper Rio Grande basin was in the throes of a significant
drought caused by lack of snowpack or substantial rain. Last 5.5
year the flow in the Rio Grande near Del Norte averaged only cLa
223 cfs, which is 5 times-less than this month's flow. O.7
0.9 - 1+
41-
Public Use Impacts u.- 5.5
�V
Rain has done some damage to alfalfa'and hay crops 3 0.4
during harvesting. Some water users are benefitting from the 0.3 •
increased flows. 0.2
0.1
-0
Oct Nov Doc Jan Feb Meech April May June Ju Jy AuC Sept
MONTH
D WET(1987) O DRY(1977) p AVG X 1997
REPRESENTATIVE RESERVOIRS
RIO GRANDE BASIN
3S
30-
f 25-
e j
Sw
g 15-
r
d
10
.//y\ /\
Rio Grande Olate-o Sonta►4r le
® Avq.8/31 Contents ® S 3N97 Contents
5