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GUNNISON BASIN May, 1998 <br /> Basinwide Conditions Assessment: <br /> The SWSI value of 2.0 indicates that for April the GUNNISON RIVER BASIN <br /> basin water supplies were slightly above normal. The Natural 5 Sir*,co wrtor Slimly Index Nlstory <br /> Resources Conservation Service reports May 1 snowpack as 4_ 1, <br /> 121% of normal. Flow at the gaging station Uncompahgre . '' rr-- f <br /> River near Ridgway averaged 85 cfs as compared to the long <br /> term average of 109 cfs. Storage in Taylor Park, Crawford, 2- = L <br /> and Fruitland reservoirs totaled 127%of normal as of the end - �` <br /> of April. = •, t ir : I if <br /> Outlook 2 f, `-.- ' <br /> _ <br /> The late and cool spring has kept snow from melting o <br /> at usual rates and percent of normal amounts of snow have -3- <br /> increased. The spring runoff outlook has brightened. -4 1 <br /> JAN89 JAN90 JAN91 JAN92 JAN93 JAN94 JAN95 JAN9S JAN97 JMBB <br /> MONTH/YEAR <br /> Administrative/Management Concerns <br /> The Grand Mesa continues to have the largest <br /> snowpack in the basin varying from 225%of normal at Mesa <br /> Lakes to 114% at Park Reservoir. Many of the dams on the <br /> mesa are already full and spilling. The rest should fill very UNCOMPAHGRE RIVER NR. R I DGWAY <br /> soon which could result in an increase in stream flow below 90 FLOW NY WATER YEAR <br /> the reservoirs down through the Cedaridge area and cause 80 <br /> local flooding. It also causes additional strain on reservoir <br /> 70 <br /> embankment. Personnel will be watching dams closely this i <br /> spring. <br /> Of special note, on May 2, 1998 Carl Smith Reservoir :1 30 <br /> on Leroux Creek failed causing about 500 acre-feet of water 2 40 <br /> to be released. Initial indication of failure is a possible -" 30 <br /> landslide on the down stream face of the dam. It appears a 1 <br /> large area, about 350 feet wide, slid out from the ::________________embankment. The slide moved 20-25 feet down stream and <br /> vertically displaced 13 feet at the crest. The arc of the slide 0 <br /> Ott Nov Doc Jan Fab ►1ArCh April May <br /> came across the dam crest and appeared to intercept the high I1 <br /> water line of the reservoir, which was full at the time. The D WET"984' 0 °R"`197' AVG >< 1995 <br /> rush of water carved out an erosion gully in the dam that was <br /> 200 feet wide at the top. Numerous diversion structures were <br /> damaged and bridges washed out. Several houses had water <br /> in them for a short time. Thankfully no human life was lost. REPRESENTATIVE RESERVOIRS <br /> This event creates a shortage of stored water for the Leroux BO GUNN ISOM RIVER BASIN <br /> Creek Water Users that could impact their crops late this 70_ <br /> summer. Many users in that area have apple orchards which <br /> need late water. . 60- <br /> SO jPublic Use Impacts a1 <br /> Irrigators are now using water to get their crops b g <br /> growing, and are looking forward to a good spring runoff. :V 30 <br /> y-/.///\\\\\ <br /> e <br /> q <br /> � 2° <br /> 10 '// <br /> Taylor Park Crawford Fruitland <br /> ® Avy. 4/30 Contents ® 4/30/SS Contents <br /> 6 <br />