Laserfiche WebLink
GUNNISON BASIN April, 1998 <br /> Basinwide Conditions Assessment: <br /> The SWSI value of 1.2 indicates that for March the GUNNISON RIVER BASIN <br /> basin water supplies were near normal. The Natural 5 Surface Nate.Supply Index 4latory <br /> Resources Conservation Service reports April 1 snowpack as ,_ L <br /> 93% of normal. Flow at the gaging station Uncompahgre fr, ' <br /> River near Ridgway averaged 55 cfs as compared to the long 3^ � : .Z " '"r'a <br /> term average of 61 cfs. Storage in Taylor Park,Crawford,and 2- w,, <br /> Fruitland reservoirs totaled 125% of normal as of the end of 1 '- '--Y- ---�- <br /> March. 1 21 �IL ,1 ,I_ .' <br /> 8u j^rP <br /> The Gunnison and San Mi el basin snowpack / : ' <br /> amounts have risen from 87%to 103% of normal, which is a � <br /> substantial increase for the anticipated spring runoff. The o 2 a <br /> Grand Mesa continues to have the largest snowpack averages 3- <br /> at 112% to 130% of normal. The Grand Mesa Water Users •4 , ..,.... .,. <br /> JAN69 JAN90 JAN91 JAN92 JAN93 JAN94 JAN9S JAN96 JAN97 JAN9B <br /> claim it is because of their cloud seeding efforts, but others ,°„TN,.T„ <br /> are skeptical. <br /> Most Grand Mesa Reservoirs are reported as full and <br /> spilling. This is very unusual for this time of year as they <br /> typically count on spring runoff to fill the reservoirs. Last <br /> fall's wet weather decreased the use of stored water and UNCOMPAHGRE RIVER NR. R I DGWAY <br /> increased the base flows resulting in the reservoirs filling this 34 FLOW BY WATER YEAR <br /> winter. This will cause an increase in river flows below the 32 <br /> 30 <br /> reservoirs during the spring runoff and could cause some local 26 <br /> flooding if the weather warms suddenly. .. 24 <br /> 22 <br /> n <br /> Outlook 20 <br /> The recent snows have improved the outlook for this g ,6 <br /> year's spring runoff. The snowpack numbers are still ." ,4 <br /> increasing. Base stream flows are still running above normal 92, ,it, <br /> and are expected to stay that way. ° <br /> e <br /> 4 . <br /> Public Use Impacts 2 <br /> Oct Nov Dec Jan RR March AdrII <br /> The increase in snowpack is good news to most NONTI. <br /> everyone. The ranchers are calving and would rather have dry ° "`T`"e., ° °" ""' 6 x ,99e <br /> weather for the calves, but they are also irrigators and <br /> appreciate water in their ditches during the late summer. All <br /> reservoirs should be able to fill this year for irrigation and <br /> recreation uses. REPRESENTATIVE RE5ERVO I RS <br /> GUNMSON RIVER BASIN <br /> e0 <br /> 70- <br /> i �V <br /> 1.; "-2/. .\\,\ <br /> h8 <br /> a" 30 <br /> S <br /> 3 20 <br /> 10 A r/\ \ \ \` <br /> Taylor Park Crawford Fruitland <br /> ® Avp. 3,31 Colleen. ® 3/3V9e Cont.nt4 <br /> 6 <br />