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GUNNISON BASIN February, 1997 <br /> Basinwide Conditions Assessment: <br /> The SWSI value of 3.8 indicates that for January the GUNN I SON RIVER BASIN <br /> basin water supplies were well above normal. The Natural 5 Surface Water Supply index HIBtory <br /> Resources Conservation Service reports February 1 snowpack 4_ <br /> as 179%of normal. Flow at the gaging station Uncompahgre _ t. :�, <br /> River near Ridgway averaged 58 cfs as compared to the long 3 .... :„ <br /> term average g a of 44 cfs. Storage in Taylor Park, Crawford,and 2- = _ —_ <br /> Fruitland reservoirs totaled 85% of normal as of the end of Y ,- +ii `' <br /> _ <br /> L <br /> January. _oV.,..,,,,,,T / , v <br /> V r <br /> Outlook r <br /> The snowpack has continued to increase and is o -2- -; r I <br /> consistent throughout the entire basin. Snowpack conditions -3- <br /> now appear to be close to a critical point where it could cause -4 <br /> JANBB JANB9 JAN90 JAN91 JAN92 JAN93 JAN94 JAN95 JAN90 JAN97 <br /> some flooding if it continues to increase. M)KTN/YEAR <br /> Administrative/Management Concerns <br /> Basin administrators are getting exited feedback from <br /> farmers and ranchers who see the snowpack so high. The <br /> Water Commissioners are also excited as it looks like they will UNCOMPAHGRE RIVER NR. R I DGWAY <br /> have plenty of water for their customers this summer. 24 FLOW ar WATER YEAR <br /> Although it is still too early to make definite forecasts 22 <br /> for the spring runoff, indications are that there will be excess 20 <br /> water to deal with in reservoir planning. Depending on the $ ;a <br /> magnitude of the snowpack, most reservoir operators in this t n ;6 <br /> area will evacuate water in March, April, and May to make :I ;; <br /> 3 7/ • <br /> room for spring runoff. 12 Z.., <br /> r� <br /> ,0 <br /> Public Use Impacts I 9 <br /> Irrigators love to see lots of snow in the mountains, 6 .-___,/,,,„..----* <br /> especially after the dry summer we had last year. The winter 5 <br /> 4 . <br /> recreational enthusiasts are also happy and are enjoying the 3 <br /> Oct N.v . Jan Feb March <br /> abundant snow. MONTH <br /> C WET C1994) o ERY C 1977) 4 AVG X 1997 <br /> REPRESENTATIVE RESERVOIRS <br /> WWI SON RIVER BASIN <br /> 70 <br /> BO <br /> 1 50 <br /> iin <br /> g 40 <br /> gij <br /> P 30-, <br /> v <br /> n <br /> i :: A <br /> -////:\:\ <br /> 0 //\\ //\ l`\ rir«I . <br /> Taylor Park Crawford Fruitland <br /> ® Avg. 1/31 Contents ® ,/3v97 Contents <br /> 6 <br /> 4 <br />