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GUNNISON BASIN September, 1997 <br /> Basinwide Conditions Assessment: <br /> The SWSI value of 2.9 indicates that for August the GUNNISON RIVER BASIN <br /> basin water supplies were above normal. Flow at the gaging S Surface Water Supply IMMIX Nlet°ry <br /> station Uncompahgre River near Ridgway averaged 251 cfs as ,, <br /> compared to the long term average of 166 cfs. Storage in _ Ils, 1' <br /> Taylor Park, Crawford, and Fruitland reservoirs totaled 104% 3 -. -_c i =`; <br /> of normal as of the end of August. 2 • r- ----- <br /> i r <br /> 75 0 - J/� p <br /> Outlook f I, ►� �I <br /> the month of { , r ' N <br /> Wet weather continued throughout _,J <br /> August. The outlook is very good going into the fall season. > („. r , ' �^`rr <br /> Q _2- ,7 ' <br /> Soil moisture is very high, a condition which should carry 4 <br /> through the winter season. -3- 1 <br /> JANB8 JAN89 JAN90 JAN91 JAN92 JAN93 JAN94 JAN95 JAN96 JAN97 <br /> Administrative/Management Concerns . KWH/YEAR <br /> The changing weather conditions have made this a <br /> very interesting year. Back in June and the first part of July <br /> water commissioners were looking at a long and difficult <br /> irrigation season. The creeks were dropping very fast after a <br /> good runoff, and serious administration had started in some UNCOMPAHGRE RIVER NR. R I DGWAY <br /> FLOW BY WATER YEAR <br /> areas. Then the heavy rains started. The irrigation demands 200 <br /> went down with most of the critical areas by having plenty of 1813 <br /> 7 <br /> 170 <br /> direct flow water. This situation remained for the month of 160 <br /> August. In areas where reservoir-water supplements natural 150 <br /> flow in the summer, very little reservoir water has been used a 130 <br /> 120 <br /> which will mean excess carry over through the winter for next ,,,'"1 1qo <br /> year. For example, last year the Uncompahgre Valley Water :g 90 - - <br /> Users Association ran about 14,000 acre-feet of stored water 5" 70 <br /> 11 <br /> out of Ridgway Reservoir to satisfy its irrigation demands. 6n <br /> 50 �■ <br /> This year, stream flow has been enough and they needed no 407----- <br /> storage water. . 20 <br /> 10 <br /> • 0 <br /> . _ Oct Nov 0OC Jan Feb Moron April YYy June July Aug Sept <br /> Public Use Impacts MONTH <br /> ° "E'""' ° CRY"°"' <br /> While an adequate supply of water for all irrigators AVG x 1997 <br /> makes everyone happy,ranchers that have been trying to put <br /> up hay in the rainy weather have been frustrated.. Some <br /> ranchers in the Gunnison area are behind and will struggle to <br /> get the rest of their hay crop bailed this fall. The REPRESENTATIVE RESERVOIRS <br /> recreationalists are also enjoying the high stream flows and 90 GUNNISON RIVE?BASIN <br /> full reservoirs. 80 <br /> 70 <br /> x <br /> 60 <br /> :•1 <br /> 50 <br /> P AO_.- \\ <br /> Q 30 <br /> i■ <br /> 20-7", <br /> 10 /,/\ <br /> Taylor Fart Crawford Fru It land <br /> ® Av.. 8/31 Contents ® 0/31/97 Contents <br /> 6 <br />