Water forecast for basin is drying up

Water outlook for this year is deteriorating. According to the Bureau of Reclamation, which monitors water resources in the Gunnison Basin, on March 10 the basin snowpack was 78 percent of average. As of April 16, the snowpack was measured at 46 percent and falling.

March inflow into Blue Mesa Reservoir was 112 percent of average.

In a report posted by Paul Davidson at the agency's website, "This is indicative of an early melt with very little snowpack remaining. Precipitation during March was only 30 percent of average."

The Bureau of Reclamation forecast for April through July is about 49 percent of average. Blue Mesa Reservoir is not expected to fill this season.

Releases from Crystal Reservoir below Blue Mesa is currently set at 1,150 cubic feet per second. The Gunnison Diversion Tunnel is diverting about 800 cfs, resulting in a river flow in the Gunnison River below the tunnel at around 350 cfs.

The Aspinall Unit Working Group will meet on Thursday, April 26, in Grand Junction to discuss the spring and summer operations of the water resources of the Aspinall Unit reservoirs. For information on this meeting contact Dan Crabtree at 248-0652.

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