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r <br /> RIO GRANDE BASIN March, 1997 <br /> Basinwide Conditions Assessment: <br /> The SWSI value of 3.5 indicates that for February the R 10 GRANDE BASIN <br /> sin water supplies were well above normal. The Natural S , 9"'""Waier Supply iodoo"',terry <br /> Resources Conservation Service reports March 1 snowpack as 4 <br /> 147%of normal. Flow at the gaging station Rio Grande near _ <br /> Del Norte averaged 167 cfs, as compared to the long term 3 l' 1 <br /> average of 180 cfs. The Conejos River near Mogote had a 2- • I+ .., •.. <br /> mean flow of 49 cfs. Storage in Platoro, Rio Grande, and - - -- 4 ---_ -- <br /> Santa Maria reservoirs totaled 119% of normal as of the end ,- : 71 i •-, k..=�, <br /> of February. -,- ' 1 - y <br /> Alamosa received a hefty 1.04 inches of precipitation - :1' . - <br /> -2- 1 <br /> during February, 0.75 inches above normal, as a result of a ' ' <br /> several significant snow storms. Temperatures rose as high as -3- f <br /> 51° in Alamosa where the average monthly temperature was <br /> JAN89 JA699 JAN90 JAN91 JAN92 JAN93 JAN94 JAN95 JAN96 JAN97 <br /> 22.3°, 0.1°below normal. YEAW 0., <br /> Stream flow in the basin approached normal levels <br /> and continued signs of recovery from last year's drought. <br /> Outlook <br /> Snowpack is on the valley floor! This uncommon PIO GRANDE NR. DELNORTE <br /> occurrence created school closures and hampered FLOW BY WATER TEAR <br /> 17° r <br /> transportation in the area during February. It has been over 160 <br /> 150 <br /> five years since residents had to contend with a foot of snow 140 <br /> on the ground. On the positive side, once it melts the snow 1 130 . <br /> will improve soil moisture content greatly. On the negative 1 <br /> 20 <br /> n 110 <br /> side a massive mud bog will be created. „1 100 <br /> Forecasters are expecting the runoff in 1997 to be W g 90 <br /> 11 above average. This would be a vast improvement over ,' 86 V <br /> 70 <br /> 96 when this basin experienced very low runoff and <br /> 60 <br /> precipitation. S0 <br /> 40 . <br /> 3° <br /> Administrative/Management Concerns 20 <br /> Oct NDr Dec Jan Feb March <br /> If the predicted heavy runoff occurs, a large Rio IONTM <br /> la WET(1997) O °FY 0977) A AvG x 1997 <br /> Grande Compact delivery obligation will ensue. Surface <br /> diverters may have to deal with a curtailment of their water ' <br /> rights in order to generate enough water at the state line to <br /> meet the obligation. Diverters of the Rio Grande and its <br /> upper tributaries haven't experience a ponderous curtailment Representative Reservoirs <br /> during the summer months since the 1983 season. 24 + FIo Grande Basin <br /> 22- <br /> Public Use Impacts 20- <br /> conditions. <br /> Winter sports enthusiasts are enjoying the current y, 19-� rConditions. y 1fi-j <br /> ±i 14 <br /> 12 <br /> /\ <br /> hF <br /> N, 1° <br /> 6/\--/ j <br /> Rio Grande Platoro SnnteIerle <br /> ILL Avp 2/28 Contents' r;Q 2/28/97 Contents <br /> 5 <br />