DWR_4151825

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

T
GUNNISON BASIN August, 1997
Basinwide Conditions Assessment:
The SWSI value of 2.3 indicates that for July the basin GUNNISON RIVER BASIN
water supplies were above normal. Flow at the gaging station 5 Surf attar Supply Index Hlatory
Uncompahgre River near Ridgway averaged 416 cfs as ,,
compared to the long term average of 338 cfs. Storage in '•' III '
Taylor Park, Crawford, and Fruitland reservoirs totaled 101% 3^ w. -=` _
of normal as of the end of July. 2- —.-
Outlook i . h. A ,ntei—ii-- ...,1 ....._ r ,
-A 1 4
Since the weather has taken an about face and turned w ft ; ',;
rainy, the outlook is brighter. The stream levels were above J '
2- r ti
normal going into the summer season,but the dry weather in o =
June and July caused them to drop to normal and lower. -3 r I
Now with the heavy precipitation, the stream flows are back - I . .--
JANB9 JAN99 JAN90 JAN91 JAN92 JAN93 JAN94 JAN95 JAN90 JAN97
up to above average and should remain so into the fall season. AQNTH/YEAR
Administrative/Management Concerns
The dry weather in July created a substantial demand
on both natural and storage supplies. Recent rains have
allowed users to cut back on their orders for reservoir water UNCOMPAHGPE RIVER NR. R I DGWAY
and save that storage for later in the summer. In the 200
FLOW WATER YEAR '
190
Cedaredge and Hotchkiss areas this will allow irrigators to put 180
170
water on their field after the hay is bailed. a8D
At Ridgway Reservoir,the Uncompahgre Valley Water .. 150
Users Association has 10,300 acre-feet of stored water b n 1,
2
available to release for irrigation uses. In 1996 the association ;1 11D -
si
started releases from Ridgway on July 8, this year they 2 '90 --
l't ma
probably won't have to use the storage water at all. Water sill s" 70
have to be released from the reservoir by the owners just to . 50
bring the level down for construction this fall. 30 ✓��
20 :!""'"
io
Public Use Impacts Q
Oct Nov Dag Jan Fah March brI I May Juno July Aug Sept
Many ranchers complain that cutting their hay always
WETmakes it rain. For higher elevations where haying comes in ° `49°'' 0 DRY"97' x 1997
August, this is sure the case this year. In the upper Gunnison
drainage, the recent rainy weather has made it extremely
difficult to put up hay,and ranchers are hoping for some drier
days. REPRESENTATIVE RESERVOIRS
For the recreationist the higher lake levels and stream 100 Gl1MlI90N RIVER 615IN
flows have been welcomed. 90
80 /./.\\
70_./"\\
u n ao
r n
S' 5o
WC, 40
h 2 ../7\
i 3D
3
20 7\
10 w
Tay Ior Perk Crawford Fruitland
® Avg. 7/91 Contents ® 7/3V97 Contante
6