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' SAN JUAN/DOLORES/ANIMAS BASIN <br /> ' Basinwide Conditions Assessment: <br /> The SWSI value of-0.3 indicates that for April basin SAN JUAN/DOLORES/ANIMAS RIVER BASINS <br /> ater supplies were normal. The Soil Conservation Service 5 S�."'M.`.r Slpply 'ndox History <br /> reports April snow pack at 93% of normal. Storage in 4 <br /> McPhee, Vallecito, and Lemon reservoirs totaled 134% of 4 • <br /> normal on April 30. The National Weather Service reports • 3 ` <br /> basin precipitation as 167% of normal during April. Flow at 2 -- • : :74 <br /> the gaging station Animas River near Durango averaged 583 ; <br /> cfs as compared to the 1961-1993 April average of 786 cfs. 0 _ - -r�""[NJ <br /> As of April 30,storage levels were above normal in all U ` . . - <br /> of the major reservoirs in the area. Lower flows in the 1. „ <br /> -2 <br /> Dolores River are were probably due to a slightly cooler period Q i 1- . [ <br /> in the later part of April. _3 <br /> _4 <br /> JAN85 JAN86 JAN67 JAN88 JAN89 JAN90 JAN91 JAN92 JAN93 JAN94 <br /> Outlook Y]NTN,YEAR <br /> April weather patterns proved once again that it is <br /> difficult to predict runoff conditions until the snow ceases to <br /> fall. Snow courses gained significantly from snow storms <br /> experienced during April 6th-10th and 23rd-30th. Many <br /> courses at lower elevations that had been dry received nearly ANIMAS RIVER NR. DURANGO <br /> the same water content as they had held earlier in the winter. 2,0 FLOW BY WATER YEAR <br /> Higher elevations which had 60%of normal water content in 220 <br /> the beginning of the month increased to over 100%of normal. 200 <br /> This promises to yield at least near normal flows during the <br /> runoff. Z <br /> :1 140 <br /> Administrative/Management Concerns >▪2 ,00 <br /> Due to an April 19, 1994 official call by New Mexico s v 80 <br /> 1r water apportioned to them under the La Plata River 1 60 <br /> Compact,stricter administration was necessary which included 40 <br /> curtailment of water users in Colorado. Also, a call for the 20 <br /> delivery of water on the Pine Ridge Ditch which diverts water 0 <br /> Oct Ibv Crc Jan Fob 'A rch April <br /> out of the La Plata River and into the Animas River drainage MONTH <br /> created a potential administrative problem because of pending ° WET""" ° COY G AVG X 1994 <br /> litigation. Due to assistance in the form of delivery of wet <br /> snowfalls, it was not necessary to honor the call. <br /> Public Use Impacts REPRESENTATIVE RESERVOIRS <br /> After the wet snows experienced during April, spring 400 DOLORES-ANIMAS RIVER e,s1Ns <br /> like conditions are reappearing. This has prompted many <br /> 3sG- <br /> fishermen, rafters, and kayakers to utilize the basin's rivers <br /> and streams for recreation purposes. Also, the warmer dry i 30 <br /> '- <br /> weather has increased the demand for irrigation water. L. 250 <br /> ii 200 <br /> hf <br /> t ,SO <br /> 1 <br /> 3 ,00 <br /> s0 <br /> 0 <br /> /I\\ ///J I <br /> Y///^\\\\ <br /> McPhee V.1 1ec I to Lofton <br /> ® Avq.4/30 Contents ® 4/30/94 Contents <br /> 9 <br />