DWR_4151827

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

. RIO GRANDE BASIN June, 1997
i
Basinwide Conditions Assessment:
The SWSI value of 2.1 indicates that for May the RIO GRANDE BASIN
'"' tw Supply index"`atery
asin water supplies were above normal. The Natural
s
Resources Conservation Service reports June 1 snowpack as 4_
126%of normal. Flow at the gaging station Rio Grande near - 3_
Del Norte averaged 3,345 cfs, as compared to the long term L L
average of 2,441 cfs. The Conejos River near Mogote had a 2- ,J �� _ -,-
mean flow of 1,097 cfs. Storage in Platoro, Rio Grande, and 4 1- ' -
Santa Maria reservoirs totaled 122% of normal as of the end . o "i _jbtf 4 * ti
of May. - T 1 .,
Alamosa received 0.51 inches of precipitation during Y _
ter' b'
May, 0.13 inches below normal. The high temperature was o -2
81° in Alamosa, the low 17°, and the average 50.6°, 0.2° 3-
above normal. -4 , .�.-......(.. ..
JANBB JAN89 JAN90 JAN91 JAN92 JAN93 JAN94 JAN95 JAN96 JAN97
YEAR/MONYN
Outlook
At month's end much snow remained at the higher
elevations. However, if the stream flow forecasts by the
Natural Resources Conservation Service are to be reached, a
long runoff season will be required. RIO GRANDE NR. DELNORTE
FLOW BY WATER YEAR
1.1
Administrative/Management Concerns 1 - -
The effects of last year's drought are still being felt in o.9
the San Luis Valley. Return flows to the rivers from surface ., a.9
irrigation and precipitation is well below expected levels. a 0-7
These return flows normally make up a vital portion of the 7.-o i f'
required Rio Grande Compact delivery to New Mexico and - O 5
texas. The lack of accretions back into the lower Rio Grande 0.4
and Conejos systems have kept surface rights curtailments at I 0.3
a higher level. °,2
0.1 -
:-. ................................................ }
Public Use Impacts 1
Oct Nov Doc Jan Feb March Marl May June July Aua Sept
Throughout the month,river and reservoir conditions
were very close to expected conditions. As May came to a ° ET"9
3" ° cR AVG N 1997
dose, snow banks still covered access to many higher
elevation destinations and a sharp increase in stream flow
throughout the basin was expected.
REPRESENTATIVE RESERVOIRS
RIO GRANDE BASIN
32
30-
2B-,
26- \\\\\`
M
24
zz f�
g n a'/\le
3 16_///7\s\
a
hP 14
r� 12
0,..././7\
3 1B.//\
j
6 /\
2 ! ,\l // \\ J/! / \ .l l
O
Rio Grande Plater° SarrtaMar la
® AVd.5/31 contents ® 5/31/97 pontanta
5