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RIO GRANDE BASIN <br /> Basinwide Conditions Assessment: <br /> The SWSI value of-1.7 indicates that for February the RIO GRANDE BASIN <br /> )asin water supplies were below normal. The Natural 5 si,,•c.Water Supply Index History <br /> Resources Conservation Service reports March 1 snowpack as 4_ <br /> 69% of normal. Flow at the gaging station Rio Grande near -ui - „ <br /> Del Norte averaged 208 cfs, as compared to the 1961-1993 3 ; if <br /> aversge of 180 cfs. The Conejos River near Mogote had a 2- - L <br /> mean flow of 59 cfs. Storage in Platoro, Rio Grande, and _, 1 : : �` <br /> Santa Maria reservoirs totaled 238% of normal as of the end i ° " _ r"' <br /> of February. _1_ A ; ti <br /> N <br /> Stream flow in the basin was slightly above normal - <br /> levels. The dry and warm conditions continued throughout 0 -2- <br /> February. Temperatures rose as high as 60°in Alamosa where -3- �! <br /> the average monthly-temperature was 28.7°, 6.3° above -4 <br /> JAN87 JAN93 JANE9 JAN90 JAA91 JAN92 JAN93 JAN94 JAN95 JAN96 <br /> normal. Alamosa received only 0.01 inches of precipitation TEAR/6DNTN <br /> during the month, 0.28 inches below normal. This made <br /> February the fifth consecutive month with below average <br /> precipitation. <br /> Outlook RIO GRANDE NR. DELNORTE <br /> 1996 is beginning to resemble 1994 in may ways. 170 FLOW Eir WATER YEAR <br /> That year saw a preceding fall that was drier than normal, 160 �° <br /> 150 <br /> coupled with below average snowpack, leading to stream 140 <br /> flows significantly below normal. 1996 has similar preceding 1 130 <br /> conditions with stream flow forecasts calling for the same 120 <br /> result. While enough time still remains to build much needed ,.1 1°° • <br /> snowpack, water users and administrators are preparing for 90 ------- <br /> ao <br /> low irrigation supplies. s y 70 <br /> /// <br /> I 60 <br /> Administrative/Management Concerns S0 Q <br /> An early call for surface irrigation rights is expected. 30 �-------- <br /> The large canals may use water as soon as mid-March if the 20 - <br /> Oct Nov °ac Jan Feb War-ch <br /> dry conditions persist. MONT,{ <br /> 0 YET(1997) o oar(1977) A AVG X 1996 <br /> Public Use Impacts <br /> Due to the dry conditions many center pivot sprinklers <br /> supplied by wells have been seen in operation attempting to <br /> build soil moisture so early grains can be planted. Winter <br /> sports activists reliant on snow cover suffered through another Representative Reservoirs <br /> sub-par month. 5° Rlb Grande Begin <br /> 45- <br /> i 35- <br /> i <br /> un 30- <br /> ■a <br /> 0 25- <br /> Mhg <br /> NV 20- <br /> 10 <br /> 5 r/\ <br /> Rio Grande Pleton. 5•ntaAbrla <br /> ® Avg. 2/26 Contents ® 2/29/99 contd.,. <br /> 5 <br />