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RIO GRANDE BASIN <br /> I <br /> Basinwide Conditions Assessment: <br /> The SWSI value of-1.6 indicates that for September R I o GRANDE BASIN <br /> the basin water supplies were below normal. Flow at the S Surface Water Supply Ind..Watery <br /> gaging station Rio Grande near Del Norte averaged 259 cfs,as ,_ <br /> compared to the long term average of 493 cfs. The Conejos i <br /> m 3- i ,..)� <br /> River near Mogote had a mean flow of 118 cfs. Storage in - r <br /> Platoro,Rio Grande, and Santa Maria reservoirs totaled 113% 2- 7 r-, - L _ <br /> of normal as of the end of September. <br /> Alamosa received 0.58 inches of precipitation during g 0FT—i ' I'ir, ��,n I <br /> -ti.' f= <br /> , Tt , ,,,, <br /> the month, 0.31 inches below normal. Temperatures ranged i l <br /> from 21° to 82° in Alamosa where the average monthly Y <br /> a -2- <br /> temperature was 52.5°, 2.3° above normal. a r <br /> -3 <br /> Outlook -4 r <br /> JAN87 JAN88 JAN89 JAN90 JAN91 JAN92 JAN93 JAN94 JANOS JAN96 <br /> The sight of snow capped peaks surrounding the San YEAR/MONTH <br /> Luis Valley was a welcome one. Although the snow did not <br /> linger through to the end of the month,water officials hoped <br /> it was just a precursor to an above average snow year. <br /> Administrative/Management Concerns RIO GRANDE NR. DELNORTE <br /> Stream flow in the basin during the summer of 1996 FLOW WATER YEAR <br /> 1.1 r <br /> was very low compared to long term historic averages. The 1 <br /> native flow was supplemented heavily by reservoir releases D.9 - <br /> and well use. Thus, water levels in the basin's aquifers o.s . - <br /> declined dramatically. Soil moisture levels have also i 07 <br /> decreased. ;a 0.6 f' <br /> a- <br /> In order to bring conditions in the basin back to a .1= .5 <br /> normal level, several months of above average precipitation S 0.4 <br /> and snowpack will be needed. The impact of this year's 1 0.3 <br /> drought may be felt for may years to come. 0.2 • <br /> 0.1 <br /> Public Use Impacts o <br /> Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb arrch Aartf May June July AUC Sept <br /> Despite the dry conditions,many farmers are enjoying MONTH <br /> a profitable year. A banner season for potato growers and ° WET`1887) ° °" �197� x 1996 <br /> high selling prices for alfalfa are contributing to the success. <br /> Those farmers with very senior water rights,reservoir storage, <br /> or irrigation wells have not been as affected by the drought as <br /> those without. REPRESENTATIVE RESERVOIRS <br /> 28 RIO GRANDE BASIN <br /> 24 <br /> 22- / \ <br /> N 20- <br /> 18- <br /> in 16 <br /> n <br /> 14- <br /> �g 10:7\6r <br /> /\ /\ _/7\\ <br /> Rio Grande Platoro SantaMrla <br /> ® Avg. S/30 Content. ® 9/30196 Contents <br /> 5 <br />