Checltin& Mountain Soil Moisture Under-the Snow, an unportanl ractor In snowrr.elt runoff. Federal-State C:ooperative Snow Surveys and Water Supply Forecasts for Colorado River, Rio Grande, Platte River and Arkansas River Drainage Basins SOIL CONSERVATION SERVICE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND COLORADO AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION AND
STATE ENGINEER OF NEW MEXICO - ASOF-
Oat& Included In tbl11 r.,J>Ort ,.·ere obtained by the ag.,ucles n uncd abovtt APR. 1, 1956 In cooperation "'ltb the U S Forut ~rvlce, National Park Service, Bur eau of Reclamation, Statf' Englm• re o! Colorado and \Vyomlng; and other Federal, State and local or~ranl&atlflntl. "I TEO STATES Of.? \R'nl :T OF ~GIUCOI.TURE SOIL CO' ICVAll< ~ SCRVIC'E
TO REClP1£N 1'fi <.W C'O()Pf:F-\ TIVt: !~K< \\o S\ r.\ l:.Y t\~0 WATt; II SCPI'LY 1<0Jt£CAS1~ KLPOU IS
Snow sunun "'IIi.,: "'•st arc (.-oududcd ~h r.:ar "'' a\tJrtt than 1200 s.now C•'ur•t.•$. FU.s.ln aDd ProvtnC"e or Slate- snow :;urvcy report• aummari~tng the results of the me.1.sur-emen'• and toreca:as ot season.tl rt1nolf and ,..,.h:r .s,upply 01re lSSued b71he Soll COG.H~tlon Sc-rvace U. S. DeparttlX'!at o! AITaeulture and S.oa:IIB of ala co• op:r.J:tors. the Water Rl&11LS Bre.oc:"' of tbe Bri.ll;h Colambia Depu1metll ol .L.and3 aod ForeSi5. and th Cal.!orau DtYLSIOO ot Water Reaou.rces.
COpies ol the var1tN5 redulll·5tate COOJ."4raUVfJ s.aow aurvey reports J.iated bolo• n:a• be ~N!'d Lt wrltlr.C to. Head, Water ScppiJ Foreea$ting Sed.ioa Soil Conscrvat lon ScrVlce 209 S. W, bth Avenua Portland -4, Oa·ecoa
8ASP.'i Rt:PORTS Color•do. Rlo Grande••• Issued monthly February through May b7 SCS and and Pl.atlt!·Arkl.ln:S.U Colorado Expenment StattOG, Fort Colluas. Colorado.• RITer &..._ns
Columbia Rt•er. ••• •••• lssu~ monthly Jamary through Ma,- by 5-<>ll Conaerva- Basm uon Servtce. r.ot~. Idaho. •
Upper Jd. •our I. Issued :n.C)I.i.tt-.ly • cbruary through May by SCS ard Rt..-er Daaln Montana AJ:;ncultu.ral E-.penment Sta.hoo, Bourman, Montana. • Wes.-Wide Wf&tt'lr ••••••• Issued April I b7 SoU Conservation Serviee and Supply Outlouk Cooperators. PortiAocJ, Oregon.
STATE RF'!POHTS: Arizona •••••• , ••••••••Issued semi.·montbl7 J.;anwry l$ througb AprU l by SCS and Salt Hiver Valle7 Vtarer Users Assoct.auon. ~oeni"&. Arlzoo.a. • Sn-ad.a •••••••••••••••• Issued monl:hly Febrvary t.hrougtl April by SCS aftd .Nn-ada State Engineer. :Reno. Sevada. • On-gt:Jn•••••••••••••••• ls.sued monlhly .lam.f'1 tbrou,ta Ma.y by scs. Port. land, Ore(On, :end Ore,on A(riCI.lhural Experlnwbt Station. •
Utah••••••••••••••••••• Issued monthly Ja..nwu·y through May by scs. S;ilt l,ake City, Utah. ahd State Enameer or Utah and Ut.ah Aar'• cult~ raJ Experunc."l"lt Slahon. • Wa.!obmgton .•• , ••.••••• Issued monthly F'ebruary through May by SCS. Spokane, Washington. and State Dep:artment of ConMrYaUon and De~lopmcnt. • ls~ monthl7 F~bna.u·,. throu~ Ma1 by SCS. Ca&per• .W,JOtG.tng. ard SCat• Enc: neer cl Wyomtac. • ued as oeedecl.
1be British • olumbt• Hpot"lS are tssu·~~ Fet ru.t.'1 1 ~hrou.;. Jut'IIE" I and ma7 be SOC\H'~ front <"nmptrol er. \\arer .t~fi.·hts llr !leh. lJeputme:nt c.f l...:lncb and Fon~au. P:.rliarroenl Bu11th11J::t., V t:1t•da, U. C
The Calllurnl.t '''l}l,rt• are hi! ~t mr•utt,ly lt<"LirJar,- l through Ma7l and may he secured front DJVl:\l 11 of \\ate ... H .'.:"Joun:~:s. C a t'ornla Dep..utment or Pubh~ Works. Sa~rtutttHlln, C'allfornt•. Tl'te annu!LI •.ttflr &upply fore-caats of Uut \\eatber Bureau are a"Va1lahle ln mcmthly bu.lletios p.lbluotu1(1 from J ry throua:h lb.y. lbese bu!letins entitled. "Water Su.pphForecoa. taf rthe 'ti"este:n l·n1tcd States ""*1 be obtaaned from Ri.,..r Font a,;. C r, \\ ather Burea .. 112 Federal ott • Bu ldang. Kansas CUJ 1 .. M SSUIU"I s;:orr SL'R<'EYS A.J) tiA'l':::R SUFPLY FO:JECASTS
f or • COUlil.AlXl ~ ~ PLATTE RIVER AP.KANSAS IUVER AND IUO ililA.'IDE D?J.I!IAG!'.: BASI!iS
April 7, 1956
Report ?re?arcd By (1) Hooer J . Stoc!:uoll, Snow Survey leader Fort Col.l.j,M, Colorado Jack !:. 'f"ashi.chek, Assistant Sncm Survey I.ea:lcr Fort Colli.'ls, Colorado
Soil Conll8rvation Service and Colorado Agricultural E::per iment Station Fort Coll!ne, Colorado and Stat e En(;i.neer of Colorado Denver, Colorado and State t:ngineer of :few !..BJCco Santa Fe, ::ew Lexico
Issued By ::ermet h ll. Chal.:::ers J. E. Whitt en state Conservationist state E.'1gineer Soil Cons.. rvation Service State of Colorado Sher:Jan s. \/healer, Director s. E. Re;nolds Colorado Agricultural State Engineer ~ri::lent S~at:.on Sta+.e of t'e"' l:e:dco Ger.er al Series Paper No. 636
I Colorado Agricultural E::periment Stntion
(l) Sr.on Survey ceas~=nts in T.~cing, Utah, -and Arizona £.re supplied b;; Snow Survey ~.)ervisors 1n these st.ates. WATER SUPPLY OUTLOOK
THE FIGURES OVERPRINTED BELOW INDICATE WATER SUPPLY OUTLOOK IN PERCENT OF NOOAL\L (1938·521 FOR IRRIGATED AREAS IN THE PLATTE, ARKA>ISAS. UPPER COLO RADO A!
l:arch increase in soow pack was far short of normal but the water supply outlook for southern Wyoming and most of Colorado is much :inproved over the past tlo!O years. SUJ:mer runo:'f t'lill be oormal or above for cost of Colorado and southern Tlj'tlming. Less than normal runoff is expected for the Rio Grande and Colorado Rivers tributaries in southwestern Colorado and northern New ::exico. The flcm of the Rio Grmde in !Jew Hexioo Tr'_ll be much like the past three years at less than half-of normal unless there is heavy spring precipitation. In Arizona winter snowfall has been light with srow-melt season streamflcm at less tha:1 one-half of normal.
Irrigation water supply outlook for most of Colorado continues to be l!luch improved over the past tro ;;oears as of April 1 . In the mrthern mountains of the state, including the headwaters of the Platte, Upper - Colorado ani Y=pa Rivers the snow pack is llO to 125 percent of noi1!1al. The snow pack declines to near nornal on the Arkansas and Gunnison Rivers in central Colorado am is generally less than normal on the Rio Grande and San Juan and their tributaries in southern Colorado and northern New l..exico. The outlook for the Rio Grande in San Luis \'alley is only slightly improved over a year ago. Along the P..io Grande in New i!exico streacflow is expected to be about the same as for the 1955 season.
l!o'W'ltain snowfall over the entire southern Rocky Mo'W'lta.in region was very light during i:iarch except at the highest elevations in northern Colorado and adjacent areas in Wyomng. Warm temperatures during the last m weeks of Larch caused unusually early snow-melt at low and medium elevations and a high density snow p;;.ck at elevations above 101 000 feet.
Mountain soils 'W'lder the snow in areas exposed to the sun are gener ally saturated as a result of snow-melt. In wooded areas Snow-melt has not been sufficient to wet the soil rore than a few inches.
streams are starting to rise in western Colorado and on the lbrth Platte but no material early season increases in streamflow have been noted on the South Platte, Arkansas or Rio Grande.
• The water supply outlook for Arizona continued to decUne during March and forecasts are not elq)Ccted to exceed 40 percent of no=al on any stream. Reservoir storage is dO'I'Itl slightly fro1:1 a ;year ago. There is also a reduction in forecasts for Colorado River tributaries in Utah during March due to lack of snowfall during the month. Snov~pack ranges from near normal in northern Utah to 50 percent of normal in southern utah. -en the headwaters of the Green River in flyoming snovr is well above no:nDal.. - 1- IDRTH PlATTE
The April 1 snow pack on the Horth Platte drainage in Colorado and llyoming is 15 percent above normal for this date ':>ut represents a substan tial decline over a oonth ago. Early season sncm-celt has occurred on low elevation snow courses and a general rise in stream flm• is reported. Soil moisture under the sno\t is above nonnal in ;:yaming and near normal along the Contine:-ttal Divide in Colorado. The in.''lcw to the Horth Platte • Reservo~ system )'lil]. equal the fiOl'l of any recent year except 19S2 • Storage in the four major reservoirs on the i'lorth Platte in ll:ft>ming now - totals about 900,000 acre- feet as co!!!pared to nearly 1,000, 000 a year ago. • Of this aoount 120, 000 acre- feet is assigned to the Kendrick Project and 190,000 to the older North Platte Project. Soil J:X)isture conditions in irrigated areas of the North Platte Valley in eastern tf;)."'ming and 11estern Nebraska are fair to good.
On the Laramie River soil moisture conditions in the Laramie and \'lheatland areas are poor. Reservoirs serving both areas are practically empty. The snow :? SOUTH PlATTE Snowfall on the South Platte watershed duri!"lg !.arch was limited to elevations near 10, 000 feet and P~gher . Due to «arm temperatures in late Larch there was unusual early seaso:l celting at medium and low elevations. At the 9,000 foot level there is slightly less snow pack than on March 1. Ho1·1ever, the early season sno1·1 Ttas heavy and on ~ In appraising the outlook, local shortages of water must be expected because demands usually exceed the nornal supply in this highly developed irrigated area. Storage in soaller irrigation reservoirs is still below ave=age but above April 1, 1955 on both the upper tributaries ar.d the lo'.Ter South Platte. This shortage nill have an adverse affect en water suopl;y outlook in a few areas but it is not as serious as a year ago. In the Colorado Big Thornpson system there is now stored 210, 000 acre-feet as compared to 320,000 a year ago and 518, 000 on April 1, 195L. Infimv to Granby Reser voir on the vrest s!ope is expected to be about 315,000 acre- feet for the • Simmer period which should increase storage in this system for future water years. Soil ooisture conditions in irrigated areas are reported fair to good. Current stream flow is about normal for early season. ARKAHSAS The water SU?J>l:y outlook for the Arkansas River declined during liarch in line r:ith the remainder of the state, but is much improved over the past -2- tno ~ars . The total s:~m pack on the upper r.a':.ers~d is sli[htl::r above no::-:ra2. with the hea•1!.er sncw pack 1.-. the lead~ area. ~now cover on the Sa.:lgre de Cristo rar.ge continued to decline during I arch a..-.d is less tl">..a.-. 1:-.alf of '10rntl fo::- this date. hinter precipitation in !.rrigated a::-eas has been relativel y light and soils are dry. Tne surr.mer ~lou of • the ..rkansc.s River at Salida sl:oulj be near no:ual. At lo,•~e r e:!.evations t:1r0ugh the main irrigated area !"lo'l' will ra.'lge eo= to 75 percent of no I!.1al. Jl:JCu t one-iw.lf no!!llal runo!'i trill occur on t 1e Huerfano, Cucharas • P.nC. 51.:..-gG.toire River::. Stora,;e !n u':lstream and p:.airul reservoirs !::as lll p::-cved s:.!.gl".tly over a ~-ear a:-o bl!t is below the usual ca:l:"cyyver swrage. ~ere is !a, OOO acre- feet o! stored wat.er re::laini.'lg i."'l John l!.ar.;in F.eser voir of the over 200, 0:l0 acr3- feet stored in tl'>.e flood of l.!a,y, 1955. The ger:e:·al w;;.ter su;>ply outlook for the Arkansas River is only !'air but some what i=p::-oved over the past two !-ears. OOI.ORAOO The water supply outlook for all area:: of western Colorado is still good even !.! • arch snoor·an has been light. Strea::t flo" wil:. probabl;r be g:-ea-:.er than the J.~·t :.1 1 snow pack noulci indicate. Tecperat.ures during the last tm •1eeke o~ •..:u-ch were r.am. S:t=~lt occ'-llTed early in the seas;:,n. Soils under the B:lOW at mediu::1 rountain elevations are saturated and streams are starting to rise at an early date. At high elevations the - snow pa::k is dense and re:::d:r for colt al.'!IOst compa.r.:.ble to l'ay 1 conditions. Except at the highest elevations the total snow pack declined in r.estern Colorado during :uarch which has not occurred during the past 20 years of snow survey re cor~ . Tt>.e best outlook ~or sno>:-~:elt season stre;m flow is on the U?Jler Colo:-ado a:td its tributaries. Above nomal flml ~ also be ex,ected on t.':e Yal:!pa and loh!.te F.ivers. On the Cunr.i.scn ?.i.ver the water ~p17 out look is near no:r::lal. ':he San Juan and Dolores ::tivers c.nd their t.:-ibutaries Tlill ha-re about throe-q'.!arlers of normal !'lo.., duri.'lg the 1956 season. Irriga~ion r.ater supplies shocl.d bu adoquate alon<; the r.ain strea::~s. Shortages IIKlY occ~.:r !n irrigated areas along the s::Jaller tributary st::-eams if rainfall durint; the late sllr.ll:rur nonths i s deficient. The fiOTt of the San Juan River througp .ier~ iia;:ico s!1ould be about three-quarters o~ no r lM.l and adequate to c.::at demands. Soil coisturc cond!.tions in nearly all of the irrigated sections of uester:t Colorac!o are reported as eood. Because of ea:ly sn.m-uelt streao flo-:T is generally above r.omal depending on da•~:r te::peratures. E:::cept for Green i..ou.'lta!.n P.es~rvoir , a part of ~he Colorado-Big Thocpson syStel:l, storage in ~~e::t slope reservoirs is le:;s than for April 1 a ~ar 2€0. P::-ospects for improving storat;es are sood. In Arizona t!:-.ere is no ir.prover.ent in the ;rater supply outlook There '!'!as very lit~le snowfall during Larch, Str"!am floTr forecasts are l;ss than for a month aco of not core than 40 pe::-cent of :10rmal for any streac. Tee snow pack en the Colorado P.iver in Utah declined substantially in res:;:>ect to nomal dur:ng Uarch, Total seasocal snowfall is ne;:.r nomal on ~he Duchense Ri~r am drops to c.bout 5'0 percent of normal on the Vir,;in ?.iver and other Colorado f.i.ver tributaries in southeastern L'ta.h. Snow cover on the Up-er Creen P..iver in · ·yoming is 35 percent above avera&e and a high runo!'f !'rom t~s area. is expected. Inflow to Lake l'ead will be cllout normal fo:- the snow-melt season at a!x>ut 10,000, 000 acre-fe t . :'lis is close to the total for ~ s~Er.er • priox's of 1954 a."ld 1955 • • The ll'ater supp~ outlook for the R!o Crande declined substantial~ d=ing !,;arch in both the San Luis Va:J.e;: of Colo:-ado and tl-.rough r;ew Jexico. Tile ;;a.."'eh increase in snol't cover at high e::evations along the Co~ti.'lental Divide in Colorado 1l'aS fu s!Xlrt of normal. Losses :!.n G!'lOW ,?C.Ck due to !W::.t~ oc urred eve:1 at elevat!=ns bet...-ean lO, :><.l) a."ld 11,000 feet in open areas. 3el.cr.Y 9 ,ooo !"eet t:1e snc;r t-ack t.as practical.ly disappeared. Soil moisture in mountai:l areas has :U:lpro\•od but tr.e ;n-esent strean now is only about normal for thi:~ date above Albuque:-que and less than norcal into Elep!lant Butte. Storage in S;m Luis Valley reservoirs is a lit<:.le above that for April 1, 1955 but less t a."l for the lone-to= c.varage. Sanchez ?.eservoir on the Culebra River ~ contains ~ct 131 500 acre-!"eet as co~pared to 3,6CO a :year a.:;o. In northern llet1 :.:Cxico El Vado Rese:-voir is near e. oty. Storage in Elephant Butte and Cabello r.eservoirs is no':7 about 200, .)00 acre-feet as compared to 150, 000 a ;year ago and only 20 percent of average. The heavy ea:-ly season sno\7 pa::k '!:lefore Februar"J 1 indicated that the water supply outlook for the :U.o Grande .,o, ld be 1:::1!lroved i."l 1956 over the ':last three :years. liorever, the increase in SilO':' Jl'!Ck d=i.'lg February am '.:.arch "as ablest a · 1!-"lil:!um of record. 'l'h:.s J-.as reduced the m.ter s::p ~· outloo~ f or the San Luis Valley to only sll(;htly better than the avera!:8 of the past tr.roe c"ears. l'!1less April and !:ay nrecipitation is e:roessive in norther:t Ncn I iexico, w:uc!l is opposed to the 30ooday forecasts, the w::.ter supJ?ly of the Rio Grande in :lel La;dco r.ill be a repetition of drouth conditions or the rost thr:.e :11ars. Ql the recos River :r.tow-celt runoff ,....11 be near a minil:lut1 or record. T".1e lT::.ter sup,>ly outlook for tt:e Carlsbad area is good because of c=ry over sto:-age and good soU rooist':.lre conditions in irrigated areas. Storage in Concl-.as Resan-oir on t:1e 1'ucumcari pro~ect is 260,000 acre feet as cor:~pared to 140, 000 a :-ear a Q • Tt:e rrater sup>ly outlook is !'air based 0:1 i.'1creased water in storage. ;,now-melt runoff on Canadian Piver trib".ltm-ies ..r:lJ. be wr;:• short0 -1.- l WATER CONTENT OF SNOW ON THE WATERSHEDS OF PLATTE,ARKANSAS,UPPER COLORADO AND RIO GRANDE BASINS BASED ON SNOW SUR~E -"'POX MATELY FIRST DAY OF MONTH In Poreent ot Normal AprU 1, 1956 • 120 : l2S ~ • • ' 11!1.- ~..,.._ •• '{' - - ~;> II llO : =~~.~ t SOUTH ,f{)O PLATTE r" ~'• 1.20 ,> iI ' 130 .. ,,-,...' I' llS 120~ ,...... __...... ' ...... -..., ..• \ ' R----· A D 0 '··---~ N I ~0 ,• RIO ' 0 '• f\."" - ~ so 90 I '• 90 ....~ ~4)> A>< A~SAS f I 1 sAN JuA as 8S-- "'I••V"-:·--=--' ----·-r-·--J S#• ;-/ ," I JO \ I f\::· so , I ~. ( • ( CANADIAN I I I • 9 /:.______I:: N ,.··E.--·w E; : ~ c 0 : I .,.~-"" -t--...... I I / 0 ' / \ 0 • \ . L _..__ 'PE~~- -~ -5- COOPERATIVE Stn\J SURVSYS STP.&\1! FID•I FORECASTS April 1, 1956 15-year Average • 1936-19_g_ Green at Lim"A:>od, Utah 1, 600, 000 123 l , Oll,OOO 957,000 1, 302,000 Little Jnake at Lily 390,000 107 lU3,000 232,000 365,000 Elk at Cl:uic 230,000 107 120,000 16h,OOO 214, 000 Yampa at Ste=boat Spgs. 3lO,OOO 121 123,000 249,000 281,000 ~.bite at IP.eker 350, 000 1ou 183,000 313,000 336, 000 COIORAIX> Colorado nr Granby 265,<> : * Including 1iwrs1ons and storace &\SIN AND STRFJill • • South Fork at South Fork 120, 000 90 67,000 80, 000 132, 000 Rio Grande at Del Norte LOO, OOOit 11 29h, 0001t 302, ()()(» S65, 0001t A~osa above Terrace Res. 60, 000 11 39,000 52,000 78, 000 Conejos at wogote 165,000 75 117, 000 lL3, 000 219,000 Culebra at San Luis 1$, 000 so 12, 000 15, 000 30, 000 Rio Chama at Park View 1$0, 000 65 108,000 llL,OOO 230, 000 Costilla at Ccstilla 1e, ooo 53 17, 000 20, 000 3L,OOO Rio Grande at otowi Bridge 375, ()()(» bS 196, 00011 298, 0001t 83S, OOOit Rio Grande at San ~cial. 17$, 0001t 29 44, 0001t llS, OOOit 601J, OOOit Pecos at Pecos 30, 000 b8 25,000 Ll, OOO 62, 000 NORTH PIATI'E Sweetwater at Alcova 91, 000 125 l2, 000 86, 000 North Platte at Saratoga 115,000 ue 234,000 b28,000 657, 000 l:.edicine Bow near Hanna 135, 000 121 60, 000 lll, OOO Laramie at Jelm 130,0001t 12L L6,0001t 64, 0001t lel!) , OOOit Laramie at Lookout .9e,ooo 11~ 8, 000 28 , 000 82, 000 SOtml PIA Tl'E Poudre at Canon 2SO, OOOit nL 7S,OOOit nL, OOOit 220,0001t Big Thompson at Drake llO, OOOtt 99 L4,0001t 60, ()Q()It lll,OOOit Saint Vrain at Lyons 95 , 000 100 30,000 61, 000 88 ,000 Boulder at Orodell ss,ooo 100 27 ,ooo 52,000 ss, ooo Clear Creek at Golden lSO,OOOit 106 S2,0001t ll7 , ()()()It 1Ll, Cl001t ARKA~SAS Arkansas at Salida 310, 0001t 96 1S8,Cl001t 320, 0001t )23, 0001t Arkansas at F\leblo 300, 0001t 75 96, 0001t 2SO, OOOit LOl , ()()()It Cucharas at La Veta 7, 000 44 6,000 s , ooo 16,000 Purgatoire at Trinidad 20, 000 35 36, 000 57,000 •Including Diversions and storage -7- STA '1\JS OF RES!JWOIR STORAGE APril 1. 1956 USABlE USABI.::: - 1000 acre BASIN AND STREAM RESERVOIR CAPACITY ·feet (Thous. I 11!>-year Avg.•. A. F. ) 1956 I 1955 195u 1938-52 MISSOURI RIVER Poudre River Windsor 18.6 8.u 3.1 5. 9 ll. l It Cache la Poucire 9. 5 5. 2 5. 0 6. 0 6.8 "Q It Fossil C::-eek 11,6 5.1 3. 5 5. 3 7. 5 n It Terry Lake 8. 2 u. o J ,6 u. l 4.5 • • Halligan 6. 4 4. 0 3.!l 2.5 1.9 ".. Chamber's Lake 8.8 2.1 1. 5 1. 5 2. 7 " Cobt Lake 34. 3 o. o o. o 7"90 4. 7 "n "q Black Hollow a. o 0. 9 0,9 3. 4 3. 4 It It Horsetooth 143.5 79.3 92. 9 124. 0 -- Big Thompson River Lake LOveland 14. 3 7.2 4. 7 7. 5 4. 4 • " a Boyd Lake U4. o o. o 0,1 6.7 15. 5 It " • Lone Tree 9. 2 9.0 7.1 7. 3 6. 2 • II II Mariano 5. 4 0. 3 3. 7 2. 5 n II II carter Lake 112. 4 5g:1 68. 2 21.5 St. Vrain River Union 12.7 1,6 1. 0 6.1 7.1 South Platte River Eleven Mile 81. 9 24.4 17 . 3 61. 9 75 .1 n n It Cheeseman 19.0 25. 0 22 .7 28. 7 56.6 • It • Harston 18.9 13 . ~ 13. 2 11. 4 15.3 " " " Barr Lake 32 .2 16.2 14 .9 17. 4 20.6 It It n Milton 24.4 1,8 0,6 4.1 11. 9 II n If Standley 18 . 5 9. 0 s . o 6. 9 12 .1 II " " Harshall 10.3 1,6 0. 6 0,6 2. 9 " It • Antero 33 ,0 o. o 10.2 10.2 14.0 " n a Horse C::'ee~ 20. 6 12 . 5 S.6 9.5 9.6 " " " Riverside 57.5 27. 6 17 .0 48. 2 46. 6 " " " ~pire 37. 7 18. 2 13.5 29. 6 30. 4 It • Jackson Lake 35.4 34 .1 33. 6 34.1 33. 4 n " II Prewitt 32 .6 o. o 7.5 13. 5 22. 4 n "n • Point of Rocks 70. 0 45. 0 ..o .6 56.1 57. 3 • " • Julesburg 28. 2 21.5 21 .2 22.1 21. 5 North Platte River Kingsley 1995. 0 923. 4 1192 .0 1571. 0 ll82. u* It " Suther!.and 185. 0 53. 2 60, 0 u9.o 51.1 "It It It Minatare 60.8 20. 6 19. 0 36.2 23 .6 It It n Alcova 190, 0 169.6 171. 6 187. 3 91.1 a It II S8!11inoe 1025.0 267. 6 312. 0 235. 7 305. u* " It It Guernsey u6. o 37 . u 36.9 2u. 3 uo.1 • • • Pll.thfir:de::- 1045.5 469. u UBO.l 671. 3 456.1 Laramie River ifueatland. 70. 4 1, 0 0. 5 12. 0 36. 0 ARKANSAS RIVER Arkansas River Twin Lakes 51 .9 15.9 13.5 8.1 25. 2 II It Sugar Loa! 17.U 7. 2 5.1 13. 7 8.1 " II Cl.e ar Cpeek ll.l 4.2 1. 9 12, 9 5.1 • a Meredith 41. 9 o. o o.o o.o 16.5 n • Horse Creek 26. 9 o. o o. o o. o 9.1· It It Adobe Creek 61,6 o. o o. o o. o 26. u n It Chucharas 40. 0 11.6 o. o o. o 6.1 It John Hartin 655. 0 uu. o 5.7 15. 6 78 . ~ It " " Great Plaina 150. 0 o. o o. o o. o 52 . 0 Purgatoire River l'.ode1 15. 0 2.1 1, 2 2Q,8 3. 7 *Some for shorter periods -8- STATUS OF ~VOIR S'IORAGE April 1, 1956 USAB::.E USAB!B STORAGID-1000 ACRE-F~'l' • BASIN AND Sl'P.EAl! F.Ji'.;)'EHVO IR ICAPACITY About A}lril 1, 1956 1 (TIDUS..A. 11;>-yr.Avg. l FT.) 1956 11955 1954 1938-5'2 • CO !.ORJU)O Dl!AIEAGE Taylor River Taylor Pari: 106, 2 40.6 54.1 53.1 63.3 Los Pinos River Vallecito 126-;3 48.2 65';0 34;2 38. 7-!t Groundbog Creek Groundhog 21, 7 4.0 4,0 3.2 9~·1 Blue River Green :!ountain 1.46,9 48.2 42.6 54. 8 56;4* Colorado River Lake !c:ead 27,935. 0 10720,0 ll5'58,0 15792,0 18200,0 Colorado ?.iver Lake Havasu 688;0 616,3 630,0 623. 8 576.7* Colorado River Lake lbhave 1,810,0 1717.7 1755. 0 1761";0 Colorado River Granby /;67.5 105,3 156, 2 372. 9 136.2 SALT A!fD GILA DRAINAGE Salt River Roosevelt 1382,0 229;2 401.1 693.5 513;3 II 11 Horse ~sa 24.5;0 230;7 2u2-;7 244:8 194;5 II II lior.:xm Flat 58;o 56;6 55-;6 57;5 43;6 II II Saguaro 70;0 66,2 68;1 58,6 43.4 Verde River Bartlett 180;;0 67;6 57~ 4 84:7 8T.7* Horseshoe 1430.0 2.4 1. 2 76.5 31.2* Aqua F!'ia River Carl Pleasant 173,0 27;4 22. 9 45:7 33 .5 Gila River San Carlos 12CO,O 56.5 18.8 uo.o 206,2 RIO GRANDE Rio Gra.J.de 45. 0 6,5 7.5 7.0 16. 7 Santa t:arla 45.0 3.1 3.2 2.8 9.9 Sanchez 103.0 13.5 4. 0 4.3 13.2 Terrace 17,7 2. 2 1.5 1.6 3.7 Continental 26.7 3. 7 u. o 5,8 7.5 Pletoro 60,0 o;o 0,0 0,0 Elep~t Butte 2273.7 186.8 143. 2 142.5 878. 9 Caballo 356.0 10.7 lh. l 31,6 171.2 CHA!!A. !IT VER El Vado 226,0 0,3 o.o 0,0 46.6 c:JldDIAN :U-v::R Conchas 600,0 261,3 lh3.3 166.2 261, 7* ?c:ros :nvrP- Ala.':lo gordo 148. 0 82.6 34.5 56;8 l;cE.illan- Avalon 45. 0 30.8 4. 8 16.7 * Some for s~orter periods - 9- OOOPERL'cT;::: S IIJ:, SURVTIS SUI.lrARY OF 51'0·,; loiEASUREJ.Efi'S Apr il 1, 1956 No.. of rears April 1, 1956 \;ater ilATERSHEDS Courses I of Contents as rercent of Averal!ed .Rocord 1955 1 1954 I Averalt'tl • PIATTE RtVER SVreetrrater 2 16-19 128 87 129 North Platte River 10 18-20 126 130 109 laramie River 7 16-20 161 138 123 So•1th Platte P.iver* 3 16-20 lll 138 ll7 Poudre River 6 16-20 1.66 160 132 Big Thompson ~vcr 2 15-18 162 155 125 St, Vrain River l 20 191 144 ll2 Boulder Creek 2 18-20 161 159 134 Clear Creek 2 14-20 178 197 134 ARKANSAS RIVER 7 15-20 132 120 94 OOWRAOO RIVZR Colorado River* 20 8-20 143 150 115 Roaring Fork 4 8-20 137 156 lll Plateau Creek 2 16-19 93 95 83 Yampa River 5 20 125 140 109 lihite River 2 19-20 108 122 99 Gunnison River a 9-20 lo6 115 87 ll:llores River 3 19-20 140 138 70 Green River (liyo) 6 17-20 161 109 1.36 San Juan !liver 5 14-20 145 115 81 Animas River 3 19-20 130 164 92 Gila River Salt River Verde F.ivar Little ColD. River \d ll isms River Lcr.ier Colo, id.ver RIO GRANDE Rio Gr ande (Colo, ) Upper Rio Grande 3 17-20 124 164 90 Alamosa River 2 16-19 134 208 91 Conejos River 2 19-20 138 118 76 Culebr a River - Rio Grande (N, I.:, ) 10 14-19 61 38 22 Chama Ri ver 4 14-20 134 81 49 Pecos River 3 14-19 Canadian River 3 14-19 89 58 -.32 * Above Glemood Springs -10- VALLEY PRSCIPITATIONY • Division Averages and Departm-esY • ta.Ll '·inter IP_;nt.GE Scmt.-Oct.-t:ov. 195S Dece:~c!!r t:rru Februa7i! DIVIS:or,s Averafe I Departure!/ Average 1 Departure! i 1101\Tli PIJ. TTE RIVER, Wyo. 2.07 - l . lL 3. 112 I . 112 SOUTH PlATTE RIVER 1.80 - 1 .35 1. 2S - .)II /J\Y.At:SAS Ri'm! l . IIS - l .S3 1.83 - . 49 COUJU DO RI'BR 3.16 - l .S2 6. 95 11.73 GR:.:El\ River, "yo, 2.26 - .119 2.40 f. . 49 SAN JUAU River, J;ew !L~exico .6S - 2.119 2.96 I .18 COWRAOO R!Vut, Arizona .114 -.76 GilA River, Arizona .96 - 3.36 CI.HADIAN RIVER, he1f w.exico 2.SS - 1.09 .95 - .87 RIO GRAI.'Il!:, Coloo .8) -1.63 1.1111 I .18 RIO GRANDE (N) New J.!exico 1.16 - 2.65 2.70 - .84 RIO GRAI!DE (S) New l.iexico 1.66 - .e6 1.09 - .32 PECOS :!iver , Reif li.exico 3 . 26 - .l7 1.31 - .16 ?:/ Prelim~nary analysis by 0. S. iieather Bureau fro!ll data furni shed by L.eterorological Service of Canada and U. S • .Veather Bureau, y Departure from 1S-~·ear (1938- 1952) drainage division average. 2( Selected Stations. -11- COOPERATIVE SI!O.I SJRVEYS April 1.¥ 1956 Snow Cover Measurements Drainage Basin .19!>6 Past Recor 000PEP.ATIVE S~ll'i/ SURVEi'S April 1, 1956 ;:,now Cover ...sasurements Drainage Easin I ] I 1956 Past Record and NI.UDber Elev. Date Snow iater ~ater Content (In. ) l Years • 1 I Snon Course i of Depth ~ntent -r .I Average I of Surveyj (In.) (In.) 1955 ! 1954 1938-52 i Record ~ COIJJRAOO ::-.IVIR DRAINAGE ** YAJ'A fu.-vER Dry Lake 6Jl 8300 3/30 60 24. 0 16;3 11.2 20;3 20 Colu.'llbine lodge* 6J3 9)0:> 3/28 71 27;9 22:3 15;0 23;5 20 Elk River 6J4 8700 3/30 45 n;6 17~0 15-;8 11.4 20 L:'TlX Pass* 6J6 9100 3/29 44 12;2 11:9 9:8 D . 3 20 P.outt Line 6J8 9700 3/28 100 41;5 32;6 29:0 5 P.abbit Ears 6J9 9550 3/28 8o 31.9 23;3 22.3 - 5 Yanpa View 6Jl0 8500 3/28 44 11::0 14;1 10;2 5 Old Battle* 6ID.O 9800 3/30 82 34.8 25.3 25. 9 32. 7 20 TiHITE RIVER Burro l'ountain 7Kl 9000 4/1 49 17. 0 16. 0 16. 7 19. 1 19 Rio Blanco 7Jl 8500 3/30 51 18.0 16.3 12.0 16. 2 20 PI/.TEAU CRE3K i:esa Lakes 7K4 10000 3/31 44 14.9 17;6 16;7 18.2 19 Tr!ckle Divide 7l(5 10000 3/29 69 24.9 25. 4 25. 2 29. 7 16 GUITI!ISON ITV:::i Crested Butte 611 9000 3/30 43 15;4 12. 0 9. 8 15.2 20 Park Cone 6L2 9700 3/30 41 11.5 9.9 9.9 10. 8 19 Alexander Lake 7K3 10000 3/29 53 20. 0 21.0 20.3 24;1 19 Ironton Park 7Li6 9800 3/29 39 13~6 9;0 5. 6 14. 4 19 Tri.ck1e Divide 7K5 10000 3/29 69 24.9 25;4 25.2 29.7 16 Park Re servoir 7K6 9500 3/29 65 25.3 24.0 23.2 27.4 16 Porphyry Creek 613 10800 3/30 49 17.4 12.5 10.1 17. 5 16 Kannah cr. 7K7 10700 Est. !t3 17:0 22. 8 22.0 26. 8 9 Lake City 71!8 10300 3/30 20 5;5 6;4 NS 7 Sp:-ing Cr. Pass* 6:'.113 10900 3/29 34 10;0 5: 5 7;6 7 Cochetopa Pass* 6L6 10000 3/30 23 5;6 2;9 3;3 - 7 lccCl•Te ?ass 7K8 9500 u,• '1 41 l5;o lh: 9 9:0 6 Red Lit. Pass 7i·il5 11000 4/2 89 32. 4 22. 3 25.9 • 5 SAt! JUAil RIVER T:olf Creek ?ass* 6!Jl 10000 3/30 13 31;3 20.0 24.2 31. 1 20 Up::e r San Juan 6l13 10000 3/30 77 34;8 22; 8 26;6 34.6 20 Granite Peal:s 7-!7 7950 3/29 0 o;o o.o o.5 7. 0 15 La Plata 7D'l0 9700 4.2 23 10.0 10.1 10.9 6 T:olf Creek S=it 6iJll7 11000 3/30 82 32 .6 17. 7 25.0 5 c;1allla Divide* 6N2 1750 3/31 0 o.o o.o 0 .4 2.6 16 C"naoita* 6N3 8500 3/31 8 2. 8 4. 8 8. 3 9.6 14 NS - llo Survey * On adjacent drainage ** Courses 'IIi th less t han 15 ~ ars record :.:1 period 1938-52 have all years prior to 1952 averaged. -13- OOOPERA'i'IVS S!DTT SURVElS April 1, 1956 Snow Course ~asurements Drainage Ba.sin 1 = j 1956 i Past P.ecord and Number.Elev. Date 1snow Water ';ater Content (In.) Years Snow Course l 1 lor .DepQI Content Average 0! Survey (In. ) (In. } 1938-52 Record ** OOIDRAOO iUV.;R DRAIHAGE ANII.!AS RIVER Silverton Sub. s . 7t!h 9400 4/2 16 h.3 5.0 h.O 5. 4 20 Ironton Park* 7I.D 9800 3/29 39 13 .6 9. 0 5.6 14.4 19 C3.scade 7L5 8850 4/2 J8 12.1 9.0 a.a 12.8 20 Spud ilt. 7lJ.l 10700 4/2 10 26.2 16. 3 20.5 5 ( alas Lake 7D2 10500 4/2 J6 ll;7 10. 3 6. 7 5 Hol'fardvill.e TJ.i13 9800 4/2 J6 10.9 8. 3 10 ;0 5 W-ner.:U Creek 7L:J.4 10300 h/2 49 lh.3 u .s ll.3 - 5 Red ut. Pasa* nus uooo 4/2 89 32. h 22.3 25. 9 5 OOIDRES RIVER Rico 1la 8100 4/2 10 3;4 5.0 3;1 8.6 20 Telluride 71:2 8600 3/JO 18 5;9 h.2 1 •.3 7. 4 20 Lizard Head TJ.i.J 10.300 3/30 54 13.8 7. h 11. 7 17.1 19 Trout Lake 1ll9 9100 3/30 47 14.1 9. 3 9.8 - 1 GilA RIVER Frisco Divide Bsl 8000 o. o o:o o;6 18 State Line 9S8 &xlO o:o o;o o:6 18 Taylor Creek 751 7850 3/Jl 0 o;o o;o o;o o;l. 14 Inman 1S2 7800 3/31 0 o.o o;o o;o 0;1 10 Nutrioso 954 85oo O. J o;o o.6 18 Beaver Head 956 800o o.o o:o 1.0 18 Coronado Trail 9S7 8000 o.o o. o 1.5 18 Rose Canyon 10T2 7300 o. o o.o 0. 7 8 Bear \.allow lOTl 8100 3/JO 0 o. o o.o o.o 2. 2 8 'IERlE RIVER Iron Springs* l2R2 62oo 4/1 0 o.o o.o o.o o;o 10 Camp Wood l2Rl 5100 4/1 0 o. o o.o o.o o.o 10 Uingus l.Duntain 12R3 7100 o;o o.o o. o 9 lforman Lake* llR4 1350 o.o 3;9 8;4 9 Fort Valleytt llP2 1350 3/30 0 o. o o. o 2;1 1. 9 9 Chalendar* 12Pl 7100 o. o o;3 2.8 9 Umds Parle llRl 6500 o.o 1. 5 6 Casner Pa!'k llR2 6950 HS 3. 3 - 6 lion:x>n wt. llR3 7500 llS 5.9 - 6 Happy Jack llR.5 76.30 o.o 2. 4 - 5 * On adjacent drainage Courses nith less than 15 ;years record in period 1938-52 have all years - prior to 1952 averaged. NS No Survey OOOPfRATIVE S~D':I s;,iRVE!S Aprll 1, 1956 Drainage !la:lin - 1956 I ?ast F..ocord~.---- • and I thn:lbcr Elev.IIlite Snow I :later ~~ater cOnteii"C(rn.) ~ars Snc.n Course I j of I Deothl Content ' vera:;e of ------..l.'---~-.Lurvey (rn.); (!n.) ! 195S !J.9S4 .1938-52 Record OOLORhJX) JJ:VER DRAINAGE \IILLIJUS RIVER Iron Spring~~ l2R2 6200 0 o.o o.o o.o o.o 10 Camp liOOd* l2Rl 5100 0 o.o o.o o.o o.o 10 \11llOI'I Ranch 13Pl sooo 0 o.o 0,0 o.o 10 101 t:t O:H..CllADO RIVER Bright Ane;el 12!U 8400 3/31 11 2;9 7.0 10,6 9 Gr;:.nd Ca."cyyn l1P1 1500 3/31 0 0,0 o.o 1,6 9 Fort ';'al.!ey UP2 73SO 0 o.o 0;1 2,1 9 Chalender l2Pl noo o.o 0,3 9 SALT RIVER Forest Dal.o lOR6 7000 3/30 0 0 , 0 o.o o.o 0,0 17 L:cllary 9R2 7200 3/30 0 o.o o.o o.o 0,2 17 Nutrioso 954 8500 0,3 0,0 0,6 18 Coronado Trail 957 8000 o.o o;o 1.5 18 ..&:l.lk Ranch 9P~ 7000 3/30 0 0,0 o.o o;o o.o 14 llorkman Creek 10Sl 586o 3/27 0 0,0 o;o 1;2 5.9 4 Eave~ic:: Fork 952 9020 o.o 7.5 6 3alcly 951 8125 o.o 5,1 6 Fort Anache 9R5 9160 11;3 7.4 6 Pacheta 9S5 7800 3/30 0 o.o 0 ,0 o.o - 4 L! r :u; ro IO?.AID !Uv:::It Forest Dale* 10R6 6U50 0 o.o o;o o.o o;o 17 l:.ct1ary 9R2 7200 0 0,0 o.o o.o 0,2 17 l1wtrioso* 954 8500 0,3 0,0 0,6 18 ltlrmon Lake llR4 7350 o.o 3.9 8.4 9 Fort Valley 11P2 7350 0 o.o o.o 2,1 1,9 9 i.bmon !It, llR3 7500 5.9 6 K:lppy Jack 11R5 7630 o;o 2.4 - 5 Gentry lORS 7600 o.o 0,6 - 6 !Iober 10R4 7600 o.o 1,2 6 Canyon Creek 10R3 75CO o.o 2,3 - 6 .. !IS tlo 8\!..~y * On adjacent drainage ** Cour:;es Tlith less than 15 years record in period 1938-52 have :U.1 years prior to 1952 averated, -lS- COOPEIVTIVE Sl"O SURVEYS April 1, 1 9S6 • :>nOll' vourse ... easurement.s Drainage Basin l.~o Past 1tecor<1 and Number Elev. !)ate i:>nOII' 11ater Water l.iontent {In. Years • Snow Course of Depth Content of Survey (In.) (In. ) J.~> !954 Avera11e Record G.~ RIVER IIW:NAGE IN UTAH ** UPPER GREEN RIVER Hewinta R.s. lOJ4 9500 3/29 33 9.S 8.3 NS 9. 9 22 Hole-in-Rock 10J3 91SO 3/27 16 4. 4 6.1 6.2 6. 4 25 !ing' a Cabin (U) 9J1 8800 3/26 31 10,0 10. 4 13.S u . 4 26 l(ing' s Cabin (L) 9J2 e600 3/26 26 8. 3 1·9 10.7 10. 4 26 OOCHENSE R!Vm leice Fork )It, 10Jl0 lOSOO 3/27 44 15. 0 1).6 12.4 13 .0 25 Paradise Parle 9J3 10!)00 3/26 48 1$. 9 1).4 16. 0 13 .7 24 t.oosby lit, (L) 9JS 9SOO tiS NS t.'S 11. 7 13.1 12.4 26 Brown Duck Lake 10J9 10300 3/29 S7 21.5 NS 16.1 20. 6 12 Indian Canyon 1010. 9100 3/30 26 9.1 11 .0 11. 2 u .4 26 PRICE RIVER Indian Canyon lOKJ. 9100 3/30 26 9.1 n .o 11 . 2 11 .4 26 Gooseberry Res. 11K4 8700 3/31 45 17 . 7 15. 9 14.7 20.6 28 Staley Ranch 11K7 7600 3/31 6 2.0 s. 7 o.o 6. 6 20 try Valley DiYide llK8 7800 3/29 25 9.S 11 .3 9.5 10.8 21 Hntngtn- Hor seshoe uKS 9600 3/31 50 19.2 18. 2 19. 2 26.3 26 Jiud Creek llK6 8600 3/29 29 10. 7 1). 7 14.3 7 COLC!U.DO RIVER ll'IA!KAGE IK UTAH &.NRAFAEL Rrmt Hntngtn-Horseshoe 11K5 9600 3/31 50 19.2 16 .2 19.2 26.3 26 Seeley Creek R.s. llK9 10000 3/30 36 12.8 llo3 14.3 16.8 26 VIRGIN RIV'm Long Valley Jnct. 12:!6 7500 3/26 0 o.o o.o 3.9 5.5 19 Harris Flat R.s . 1210 7700 3/26 0 o.o 8. 5 10.8 9.4 2S Duck Creek R.S. 12tn4 8560 3/26 2S 9. 6 u .s 17.1 11 . 4 21 Cedar Breaks 12Ml 10200 J/30 49 19.2 20. 4 2$ .6 25.0 21 Webster Flats 12!0 9200 3/30 28 10.8 14.7 21 .4 19.8 29 COUJU.DO R. (S .E. UTAH) LaSal 16t. 9Ll 8800 L/2 18 5.8 10. 0 7. 4 u.s 2S Buckboard Flat 9ill. 9000 L/2 26 8.4 14.0 12.4 15. ) 26 HS - No Survey ** Courses with less than 15 years record in period 1938-52 have all years prior to 19S2 aYeraged. -16- COOPERATIVE Stn'i SURVEYS A\prl U 1 , 1956 Sncw; (.;over illeasurement Drainage Basin I 1 .!.Y:>O 1 l'ast Record and Number !ilev. ! Date of Snow [Water Jl\at.er I..Oontent_Un .) Years Snow Course i Survey Dept h Content! 1 Avera~ of I I Record • ( In~) (In. ) .19SS .1954: 1938-52 RIO GRANDE mAINAGE ** RIO GRANDE IN COLORAOO ilolf Creek Pass (i.:l 10000 3/30 73 31. 3 24 .2 18. 3 31.1 20 Upper Rio Grande &!2 9350 3131 18 4. 4 4.8 3.B 7. 0 18 Silver Lakes &14 9600 3/30 20 6.2 3. 0 1.2 u. 9 19 River Springs 616 9300 3/30 16 5.1 3. 5 1. 9 7. 6 19 LaVeta Pass #2 5!U 9300 V2 10 3.5 1·7 5·1 9. 7 20 Sllllmi.tvi11e 61!6 11500 3/28 59 18.. 0 14. 9 10. 4 21. 7 16 Cumbres Pass #2 &:rr 10000 3/31 48 18..0 13. 2 17 . 6 22 .7 20 Santa Maria 6..8 9700 3/31 7 2.8 2.1 1. 2 4.7 17 Culebra 5M3 10000 4/6 12 3.8 10.0 1·1 11.7 16 Ft. Garland 5Mu 8200 3/31 0 o. o o.o o. o 2.7 16 Pla tor o 61!9 9950 3/29 42 15.3 13 .5 8.8 7 West Conejos 000 9450 3/29 23 8.3 6.8 2. 7 7 La blanga 6!dll 10100 3/30 52 18.1 18 .7 13.1 7 Pyramid 002 10300 3/27 29 9.1 7.8 6.1 7 Spr . Creek Pass &::13 10900 3/27 26 6. 9 7.6 5. 2 7 Pool Table Wt . 6l.n4 10000 3/26 11 2.8 5.3 3·6 7 Lake Humphreys 6US 9300 3/26 12 2.9 2.6 3.5 7 Cochetopa Pass 6L6 10000 3/30 23 5.6 3.3 u.o 7 HCMar dvi11elt 7llil3 9800 V2 36 10. 9 10.0 6.7 5 Red 14t. PasS* 71t11S 11000 V2 89 )2. 11 25.1 23 ·3 5 Porcupine 61.0.6 10400 3/27 30 8.1 10.1 6.2 4 Wolf Creek SUlllllli t ~7 11000 3/30 82 )2. 6 25.0 17. 9 5 UPPER RIO GRAMm Wolf Cr eek Pass (i.U 10000 3/30 73 31.) 24. 2 18 .3 )1.1 20 Upper Rio Grande 6M2 9350 3/31 18 L.4 4.8 ) .8 7.0 18 Santa Maria ~8 9700 3/31 7 2. 8 2.1 1. 2 4. 7 17 AlAMOSA RIVER Silver Lakes 6ML 9600 3/29 20 6.2 3,0 1.2 4. 9 19 Summitville 6A6 11500 3/28 59 18 .0 lL.9 10.4 21 . 7 16 CONEJOS RIVER River Springs &15 9300 3/30 16 5.1 3.5 1. 9 7. 6 19 Cumbres Pass #2 647 10000 3/31 48 18. 0 13.2 17. 6 22. 9 20 Pl.atoro &.19 9950 3/29 42 15.3 13.5 8.8 7 West Conejos 000 9450 3/29 23 8. 3 6.8 2. 7 7 La Alanga 6iU1 10100 3/30 52 18 .1 18 .7 13.1 7 CULEBRA RIVER Culebr a Sla 10000 4/6 12 3. 8 10. 0 1·7 11 .4 16 NS - No Survey * On adjacent drainage ** Courses With less than 15 ye?rs record in period 1938-52 have all years prior to 1952 averaged ' -17- COOPERrl 'I'IVE S: • April 1, 1956 Snoa Cover Y.easurements Drainage Basin j 19.56 Past Recore! and Number Elev. !Date Snow Water \-later Content (In.) Years Sno~l Course I ·Of. Dept.'! Content I j.!.verage of (Survey (In. ) (I n.) 1955 1954 I :.932- 52 Record iLO GRA!!DE DR.INAGE (New Mexico)- C:W·lA iUVER Cunbres Pass /12 &17 10000 3/31 1:8 18.0 8,0 13.2 22.9 20 Pa:' Role 6N1 9700 3/29 5 1 . 3 3.4 5.6 9.7 l6 Chama Di·1ide 6N2 7750 3/31 :> o.o o.o 0. 4 2.6 16 Char.ita 6N3 8500 3/31 8 2. 8 4.8 8.3 9.6 1ll Bateman 6N4 9300 3/29 30 8.6 7.9 8.6 6 PECCS RIV ZR As:Jen Gr ove·:f 5Pl 9500 3/29 0 o.o 0.6 1. 8 3.4 19 Pancheula #2 5P2 8)00 3/30 0 o.o o.o o.o 2. 2 19 Big Tesuque* 5P3 lOCOO 3/29 0 o.o 0 ,3 3.4 5.4 14 F.IO GRAtJDE Red River 5N1 9500 3/28 5 1. 6 4.1 4.6 7.9 19 Taos Canyon 5N2 9000 3/28 4 1 .7 3. 3 2.5 5.7 17 Aspen Grove 5Pl 9100 3/29 0 o.o 0,6 1 . 6 3. :. 19 Tres R:!.tos 5Nh 9COO 3/28 2 o.s 0.., . .6 1.2 5.2 18 Pay :'tole 6N1 9700 3/29 5 1.3 ~ · 4 5.6 9. 7 16 G!tar\a Div:!.de 6N2 7750 3/31 0 o.o o.o 0 .4 2.6 16 Chamita 6!-12 8500 3/31 8 2.8 4.8 8. 3 9.6 14 Co:-ciova 5N5 10100 3/29 20 6 . 3 5.4 8.8 12.8 14 Pancheu1a #2 SP2 8300 3/30 0 o.o o.o o.o 2.2 19 Big Tesuque 5P3 10000 3/29 0 o.o 0.3 .3 .4 5. 4 14 E1l< Cabin 5P4 8550 3/30 0 o.o o.o I:S 7 Rio En Medio 5P5 10000 3/29 4 1. 4 2,9 6.8 6 ~uemazon 6P1 95~ 3/30 lh 4.2 o.o 7.7 6 Bateman 6N4 9300 3/29 30 8.6 7.9 8. 6 6 Fe.'1ton H:.ll 6P2 8900 3/30 1 0,4 0.3 0, 8 4 CAl!ADIAN RIVER F.ematite Park 5N3 9500 3/28 2 0 ,6 2. 2 2, 8 5.2 12 Tres Ritos* 5n4 9000 3/28 2 o.5 0. 8 1. 2 5.2 ::8 Co:-dova* 5N5 10100 3/29 20 6 . 3 5.4 8 .8 12.8 14 ~ !{), ~T'B R~ Cu:eron Pass SJ1 10300 3/26 74 30.5 18.9 22.0 21.8 20 Park View 6J2 9200 3/30 36 8.3 7.8 7.1 10.6 20 Columbine Lodge 6J3 9300 3/28 71 27 o9 22.3 15.0 23.5 20 lUliow Cr. PasS* 6J5 9500 3/30 1.7 14.8 11.2 11 .7 13.5 18 Nortbgate 6J7 8Soo 3/30 25 6.8 4.8 5.9 6 Bottle Creek 61!8 ~200 3/30 h2 15.1 14.1 1).9 14.3 20 tlebber Spring 6H9 9000 3/30 51 20.2 16.7 15.5 19.2 20 Old Battle 6Hl0 9"100 3/30 82 34. 8 25. 3 25. 9 32.7 20 N.French Creek 6HI; 10200 3/28 80 31.8 24.1 27 .o 30.6 18 N.Parrett Creek 6H5 9400 3/28 61 21.3 18.8 17.7 20.4 20 Ryan Park 6H6 8400 3/28 37 10.8 11.7 10. 2 11.7 20 Spring Creek 6H7 9000 4/2 so 16.1 14.7 1). 6 1 Albany 6m..l 91.00 3/27 45 16.3 'M 9·7 7 La Bonte 502 81.50 9. 9 6.4 7 Boxe!der 5Gl 9000 4/3 2S 4. 2 8.4 9.1 6 UP-~:ilE RIVER Roach 6J8 9600 3/26 65 25 .1 lSo7 19.) 19.5 16 Deadman Hill* 5J6 10200 3/29 60 2).2 13.7 14. 2 15.5 19 ltclntyre 5Jl5 9100 4/1 1:2 11 . 9 8.3 9.2 6 !rooklyn Lake 6Hl 10200 3/28 73 30. 5 18.7 22.6 22.6 20 Fox Park 6Hl2 9200 3/28 25 5.9 1;.0 6.) 9.1 20 Pole ... tn. ,/2* SH1 8700 3/28 16 5.8 4.8 ).7 5.6 20 Libby Lodge {;H) 8700 3/27 36 12.1 7.1 9.1 10.3 20 i!airpin Turn 6H2 9$00 3/28 41 14,6 8.S 9.6 11.9 20 Albany 6Hll 91.00 3/27 4S 16,3 9.7 9.7 7 POUllliE RIVER CU:eron Pass 5Jl 10300 3/26 711 30.5 18.9 22.0 21.8 20 Cha~bers Lake SJ2 9000 3/26 32 lO.S 7.0 s.4 8.2 20 Big South 5J3 8600 3/26 7 2.3 0.2 1.6 2.8 20 Dead!r.an Hill 5J6 10200 J/29 60 2).2 1).7 14.2 15.5 19 Lake Irene* 5Jl0 10600 3/29 74 27.9 17.7 17.1 22.3 18 Hour Glass Lake 5J11 9500 3/28 33 10.8 6,1 5.6 9.1 16 Red Feather 5J20 9000 3/29 30 11.6 8.1 6.4 7 Lost Lake SJ23 9300 3/26 113 13.8 9.8 9o3 5 *On adjac~~t drainage ..Courses with less than 15 ye:Jrs record in period 1938-52 have all years prior to 1952 averaged NS - No Survey -19- COOPERATIVE SIICM SURVEYS Aoril 1 1956 • l SnoH Cover ~:easurement Drainnge Basin 19~ Past Record and Number Elev. Date Snow ~rate r r;ater Content (In. ) Years Snow Course of Depth Content I !Average of ...• I Survev l!h. ) (I n. J l9S~ l95U 1930-52 Record PIA TTE RIVER DRit.INAGE BIG THQ\1?$0!1 RIVER ** Lake I rene<> 5Jl0 10600 3/29 74 27.9 17. 7 17 .1 22. 3 18 l:'.idden Valley 5Jl 3 9550 3/30 46 15 .4 9.1 10.8 12.5 15 Deer Ridge 5Jl7 9050 3/30 23 7. 5 $.2 3. 7 7 tongs Peak 5J22 10500 4/1 45 15. 4 9. 7 7. 4 4 Two-lUl e 5J26 10400 3/ 30 58 20. 8 ll. 8 13 .8 3 ST. VAAU! RIVER Wild Basin 5J5 10000 3/30 47 16. 4 8. 6 11.4 14.6 20 Copeland Lake 5Jl 8 8600 3/30 18 5. 4 4. 3 4. 3 7 War d 5J21 9500 3/30 24 8.1 4.4 5. 3 6 BOULDER CREEK E. Por t .Hoffat T. 5Kl 9400 3/ 30 16 5.6 4.3 2. 9 3. 8 20 University C=p 5J6 10300 3/28 70 29 . 7 17. 6 19. 3 22. 6 18 Moffat 5Jl2 9400 3/30 30 ll.6 6.5 4. 7 6 CLEAR CREEK Loveland Pass 5K5 10600 3/28 60 21. 2 13. 5 11. 2 16. 4 20 Grizzly Peak* 5K9 ll250 3/28 71 26. 4 13. 2 13. 0 19.1 18 Empire 5KlO 9650 3/28 31 8.9 5.9 5.7 7 Berthoud Falls 5Kl 3 10500 3/28 1;7 14. 3 12 .0 10. 7 5 Cl ear Creek SA17 12200 3/28 62 21.5 ::.3. 2 12 .1 5 SOUTH ?L.~T'B Rr::R Hoos ier Pass 6Kl 12400 3/30 49 16. 5 12. 3 10.8 12.7 20 Fairplay 6K2 10COO 3/30 0 o.o 2.5 o.o 1. 2 19 Jefferson Cr. 5K8 10100 3/JO 38 10. 5 9. 5 8. 8 9.1 16 Geneva Park 5Kll 9750 3/30 14 4. 2 5.0 1. 4 7 ARXAIISAS DRAil:AGE AR.I COOPERATIVE SNOW SURVEYS Furnishes the basic data necessary for forecasting water supply for irrigation, domestic and municipal water supply, hydro-electric power generation, navigation, mining and industry "WATER IS THE WEST'S GREATEST RESOURCE" ..,•