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r <br /> GUNNISON BASIN <br /> Basinwide Conditions Assessment: <br /> The SWSI value of 1.6 indicates that for May the GUNNISON RIVER BASIN <br /> basin water supplies were above normal. Storage in Taylor surfs,.Water Supply Index...4,y <br /> 5 <br /> Park, Crawford, and Fruitland reservoirs totaled 74% of ,_ <br /> normal on May 31. Flow at the gaging station Uncompahgre - _ <br /> River near Ridgway averaged 259 cfs as compared to the 3 M• <br /> 1961-1993 May average of 323 cfs. The National Weather 2 11- - <br /> Service computes basin precipitation as 281% of normal 1 'w- _ �' t , , <br /> during the month. The Natural Resources Conservation R D L'd ,-�,} , CIA ��I,I,�� <br /> III <br /> Service reports June 1 snowpack as 481% of normal. _ �-,. !',, • { <br /> r <br /> Ill <br /> c -2- ,� v' = - 1I <br /> Outlook <br /> The precipitation in May was near a record high. 3- <br /> Instead of the snow pack being reduced, it continued to climb _, 1 <br /> JAN86 JAN87 JAN80 JAN89 JAN90 JAN91 JAN92 JAN93 JAN94 JAN95 <br /> at the higher elevation courses. As a result, the percent of M7NTWYEAR <br /> average increased the whole month. There is now a serious <br /> threat for flooding in the entire Gunnison River drainage. The <br /> severity of the runoff is entirely dependent on the weather. <br /> Administrative/Management Concerns UNCOMPAHGRE RIVER NR. R I DGWAY <br /> Whenever <br /> BY WATER YEAR <br /> MY henever there is an extreme snowpack, it creates 200 i <br /> 190 <br /> numerous concerns for the Water Commissioners and the 180 <br /> Division Engineer. Of foremost concern is flood danger. 160 <br /> Accurate and current stream flow data must be provided to ; 150 <br /> i 140 <br /> various officials. The Division office is also providing advice 130 120 — - '. <br /> on strategy for lessening the impacts of the high water. -I - - .� <br /> oo <br /> Another serious concern is the safety of the dams. Many dams w g 190 <br /> Bo <br /> on the Grand Mesa are under snow at this time. The s" 70 <br /> spillways are often filled with snow and ice, which can clog u 50 f,_ <br /> the outlet and cause overtopping of the dam when the 30 <br /> reservoirs fill. Water Commissioners and dam owners have 20 `ter <br /> 10 <br /> been working feverishly to remove the snow and ice and keep <br /> Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb March April \Ay June July Aug SApt <br /> the spillways clear. There is the possibility of landslides on or AgNTH <br /> O WET(1984) o DRY(1977] 6 AVG X 1995 <br /> around dams because of the saturated soil conditions. Ditch <br /> owners share this concern as slides can either wash out or fill <br /> in ditches. Many slide areas in the basin are moving this year. <br /> Public Use Impacts REPRESENTATIVE RESERVOIRS <br /> While irrigators usually love these kinds of years 70 GUNNISON RIVER BASIN <br /> because the high sustained runoff provides a good supply of <br /> water for the entire season, they may have added expense if 6D <br /> headgates are washed out. Rafters also will experience a ; 5D <br /> great year. Those who live along the rivers will be anxious <br /> due to the flooding potential. .1 40 <br /> -\, <br /> ;1 30- <br /> N <br /> r <br /> 9 <br /> a 20 <br /> 10 Vf 1 <br /> Taylor Park Crawford Fruitland <br /> = Avg 5/91 Contents I\v 5/31/95 Contents <br /> 6 <br />