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f <br /> GUNNISON BASIN 1/1997 <br /> Basinwide Conditions Assessment: ' <br /> The SWSI value of 3.7 indicates that for December the GUNN I SON RIVER BASIN <br /> basin water supplies were well above normal. The Natural s Surface Water su,°'Y Index"`story <br /> Resources Conservation Service reports January 1 snowpack 4- <br /> as 172% of normal. Flow at the gaging station Uncompahgre 1.'-. 1 <br /> River near Ridgway averaged 65 cfs as compared to the long 3 L.: I'..` <br /> term average of 51 cfs. Storage in Taylor Park, Crawford,and 2- :- ' <br /> Fruitland reservoirs totaled 83% of normal as of the end of 1 1- n <br /> December. ............ ,.. <br /> li 1 -_ -'- <br /> g D ' �-� fk_4 +The snow storms continue to come and raise the - r - : f .. <br /> snowpack levels. Most measurement stations are above `rJ'' ` _ <br /> normal and are continuing to climb. o -2- _ <br /> 3 <br /> Outlook -4 <br /> JAN88 JAN89 JAN90 JAN91 JAN92 JAN93 JAN94 JAN95 JAN96 JAN97 <br /> People are excited and hopeful that the snow will MONTWYEAF <br /> continue. Even though only one third of the snowpack season <br /> has gone by,the current amounts indicate a substantial spring <br /> runoff. This is a welcome relief after the dry summer last <br /> year. On the south side of the Grand Mesa, many irrigators <br /> were only able to divert stream water a short time last spring UNCOMPAHGRE RIVER NR. R I DGWAY <br /> and had to rely on reservoirs to supply them during the 24 PLOW 9V WATER YEAR <br /> summer. This put a heavy demand on the reservoirs and most 22 <br /> 21 <br /> were drained. A good spring runoff will fill these reservoirs 20 <br /> again and provide a good supply for next summer. A good 1 18 <br /> 17 <br /> snowpack also produces a runoff which gives irrigators a is Y <br /> better river supply into the tail end of the runoff. This o ;; <br /> particularly benefits uses who do not have shares of reservoir >g 12 <br /> water, and allows reservoir users a later switch to reservoir s <br /> supplies. 1 8 l <br /> v76 <br /> Administrative/Management Concerns S <br /> 4 7 <br /> The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation came close to their 3 <br /> Oct Nov Doe Jan Feb March <br /> target goal of 581,000 acre-feet at Blue Mesa Reservoir on MONTH <br /> December 31, 1996. The level on that day was 601,723 acre- ° WET`1 <br /> 98 <br /> 4 <br /> ' ° DRYa % 1997 <br /> feet. This level is targeted to prevent ice jams at the reservoir <br /> from backing water up and causing problems. <br /> Public Use Impacts REPRESENTATIVE RESERVOIRS <br /> The ski resorts in the Gunnison region (Telluride and 70 GUNNISON RIVER BASIN <br /> Crested Butte)have enjoyed the abundance of snowfall. Other i <br /> winter recreation enthusiasts have been pleased with the snow 60 <br /> as well. The short periods of cold weather have caused ice to "s so yl• <br /> form on the major reservoirs, and the ice fishermen have v n <br /> started their constant vigil of finding the fish beneath the ice. io <br /> 03 <br /> a g 30 /\ <br /> In <br /> _a <br /> 9 <br /> 7 20-//".\\:1410 <br /> O //\\ //�\\ <br /> Taylor Park Crarrf ord Fruit land <br /> 771 AVQ 12/31 Contonta ® 12f31/9G Contanta <br /> - 6 <br />