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RIO GRANDE BASIN April, 1998 <br /> Basinwide Conditions Assessment: <br /> The SWSI value of 0.5 indicates that for March the RIO GRANDE BASIN <br /> basin water supplies were near normal. The Natural S gu^fece Wst•r Supply Index Nietory <br /> Resources Conservation Service reports April 1 snowpack as 4 <br /> 88% of normal. Flow at the gaging station Rio Grande near - 1 <br /> Del Norte averaged 321 cfs, as compared to the long term ▪ 3 -1u <br /> average of 250 cfs. The Conejos River near Mogote had a _-• ,f ; 4 -- <br /> mean flow of 88 cfs. Flow across the New Mexico stateline - w �-- _, ■ .......... <br /> averaged 158% of normal. Storage in Platoro, Rio Grande, I ° 1.1 _ ,' • �,. , _ -- i <br /> and Santa Maria reservoirs totaled 100% of normal as of the _,- toil <br /> r.t I 140 <br /> end of March. <br /> After several months of dry conditions Alamosa <br /> Nin• -2- <br /> received a near average precipitation of 0.53 inches during 3- <br /> March, mostly the result of 3 snow storms. The high -4 <br /> JAN89 JAN90 JAN91 JAN92 JMI93 JAN94 JAN95 JAN9G JAN97 JAN98 <br /> temperature was 71°in Alamosa,the low-6°, and the average „EI,aJ,°„r„ <br /> 32.5°, 0.2° above normal. <br /> Outlook <br /> Just as everyone was planning for a low runoff year, <br /> a significant snow storm late in the month dumped several R 1 O GRANDE NR. DELNORTE <br /> feet of snow over much of the higher elevations in the basin. 260 <br /> FLOW ON WATER'" <br /> NRCS forecasts are now predicting runoff to be 87% of 24° <br /> average on the Rio Grande near Del Norte and the Conejos 220 <br /> near Mogote. M 20D <br /> 4 160 • <br /> Administrative/Management Concerns Ii 1`° <br /> Rio Grande compact accounting for 1997 was a 1 140 <br /> y t: 1'20 <br /> approved at the Compact meeting held in Alamosa in late ,� �� <br /> March. Colorado over delivered only 700 acre-feet to the state <br /> line last year and will carry this credit over in Elephant Butte an7........„ <br /> Reservoir. There will most likely be little or no curtailment of -- <br /> water rights on the Rio Grande this irrigation season if 20 <br /> Oct Nov O•c Jan Feb Mirth AcrI1 <br /> forecasts are realized. Plentiful precipitation and stream flow ,,MTN <br /> in 1997 will enhance return flows to the Rio Grande during WET °'"""" 9 1"' <br /> 1998 and assist the Rio Grande in meeting its delivery <br /> obligation. In order for the Conejos to meet its delivery <br /> requirements to the state line curtailment of water right <br /> diversions will be necessary. REPRESENTATIVE RESERVOIRS <br /> 830 CAME BASIN <br /> 30 <br /> Public Use Impacts 28- <br /> Spring snow storms are prolonging winter activities. 24_ <br /> However, several tractors have been seen plowing in the i 22- <br /> fields. Many ditch companies have begun cleaning operations § -,/// <br /> in preparation for the diversion season. ,3 ,a—` f <br /> aP 14 <br /> 0113 12 <br /> • <br /> 10 <br /> I Be /\I // <br /> :://e.:: <br /> Roo Grande Stator* S•,ntaMrl• <br /> ® Avg 3/21 Contents ® 3/31/98 Contents <br /> 5 <br />