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GUNNISON BASIN 12/1996 <br /> Basinwide Conditions Assessment: <br /> The SWSI value of 2.9 indicates that for November the GUNNISON RIVER BASIN <br /> basin water supplies were above normal. Flow at the gaging S &r+ap Net.r supply Index History <br /> station Uncompahgre River near Ridgway averaged 82 cfs as 4 <br /> compared to the long term average of 66 cfs. Storage in 3, _ �;. <br /> ut Taylor Park,Crawford,and Fruitland reservoirs totaled 84%of 3. <br /> normal as of the end of November. 2- '- •�= <br /> Another dry month in November has left the A 1t <br /> : 'W = r <br /> snowpack and the soil moisture conditions in a dismal state. g o dmin , . <br /> Low elevation areas are extremely dry and dusty,and the high 1_ � .,,r I�; : % , ii <br /> country is almost barren of snow. Any moisture would be an ,. 2_ " _ ' <br /> improvement. _ <br /> 1 <br /> Administrative/Management Concerns _4 <br /> JANB7 JAN99 .3ANS9 JAN90 JAN91 JAN92 JAN93 JAN94 JANOS JAN90 <br /> Many irrigators were able to get their fields wet in hgWTWYEAR <br /> October which will help keep their soil moisture up until the <br /> snow comes, which will hopefully be soon. <br /> The USBR is currently dropping the level of Blue Mesa <br /> Reservoir to reach a storage amount of 500,000 acre-feet by <br /> January 1997. This level,mandated by their operating policy, UNCOMPAHGRE RIVER NR. R I DGWAY <br /> is to make room for next season's spring runoff flows. They 24 For BY WATER YEAR <br /> _ <br /> are releasing about 1,500 cfs towards that end. These high M — <br /> 21 <br /> releases allow the three dams in the Curecanti Unit (Blue 20 7 <br /> Mesa Reservoir, Morrow Point Reservoir, &Crystal Reservoir) i 16 <br /> 17 <br /> to generate a larger amount of electricity than normal. Other i f, <br /> Is <br /> dams,especially on the Grand Mesa,have also released stored .1 1154 <br /> 5 la <br /> water that was not used in order to make room for next .g 12 .��. <br /> 7 V <br /> spring's runoff. 1 ;o <br /> 9 y <br /> Public Use Impacts ,,,,,,,.,,i/l/:--"' <br /> 6 <br /> High releases from the Curecanti Unit have been the s <br /> subject of much controversy this summer. Both the general 3 <br /> Oct Nov 0w Jan Fob 3lirah <br /> public and numerous guides float fish the Gunnison during ACNTH <br /> summer and fall, and the high flows have made the river too ° "E'"'°" 0 <br /> °R �1a'� e x 1996 <br /> dangerous to raft. It does not appear this situation could have <br /> been prevented due to the record high flows in June, and the <br /> need to evacuate stored water in Blue Mesa Reservoir. <br /> REPRESENTATIVE RESERVOIRS <br /> Gunnison Rite-Bann <br /> 70 <br /> ED <br /> S0 <br /> i <br /> • <br /> L <br /> ;1 ../\\ <br /> F 30 <br /> I <br /> i 20 <br /> io <br /> Taylor Perk Crawford Fruitland <br /> 77 Avp. 1v30 Contents, ® 11/sass Content• <br /> 6 <br />