From: beckranch@frontier.net
Date: May 28, 2019 at 3:37:25 PM MDT
Subject: Pine River Releases Update
All,
First – a warm welcome to Amy, Steve, and Buck as the newest members on our
e-mail list. The list has now grown to 56 members who receive these
highly anticipated and stirring e-mails messages.
My last e-mail to you was on May 7. There has not been much change to
share with you since then other then we continue to receive moisture and
accompanying cool temperatures have slowed our runoff projection a bit.
We did increase our releases from 550 cfs to 700 cfs on May 8. We
have held the 700 cfs mark as of this writing (May 28, 2019).
Reservoir elevation on May 7th was 7,633.49 feet. Today’s elevation (at
9:00 AM) was 7,640.06 feet, an increase since the 7th of approximately 6.6
feet. Storage on May 7th was 51,983 af. Today’s storage was
65,241af. We have increased storage over this 21 day period by
approximately 13,258 af. At today’s elevation (7,640.07 feet) we are
approximately 25 feet from being full at elevation 7,665 feet.
The Vallecito (843) Snotel Site at 10,880 feet was reporting 48 inches of snow
on May 7th with a snow water equivalent of 19.7 inches. This morning
report was 46 inches of snow with a snow water equivalent of 19.9 inches.
Our last Hydrology Team Meeting was on Thursday May 23rd. Our release
plan has remained much the same. Releases will remain at 700 cfs for now.
Storage will hold steady or start gaining slightly again as the weather start
an upward warming trend (maybe). The current plan is to remain at 700 cfs
until the reservoir rises to within 15 feet of full. At this point releases
will increase to 1,000 cfs or more as needed. With the additional moisture we
have received, runoff projections have increase. The CBRFC’s (Colorado
Basin River Forecast) has increased due, in part, to the latest May storms. The
latest figure is 275kaf, which is an increase of 25kaf from the last forecast.
If the larger 275kaf April-July forecast comes to fruition, we’ll be
looking at more like 1,500 – 1,800 cfs rather than 1,000 cfs releases that we
were originally planning. This plan is subject to change with evolving
forecasts and weather.
The next Hydrology Meeting is planned for June 5, 2019, at 9:00 am at the PRID
Office. I will be leaving in the morning to attend my youngest son’s
college graduation ceremony in New York. Please don’t hesitate to call or
text if you have any questions, concerns, or suggestions. I’ll be
checking my messages frequently. I’ll be back in the saddle at PRID on
June 4th. I will send you another update shortly thereafter. (I know what
your thinkin’…Stirring!)
All the Best!
Ken Beck, Superintendent
Pine River Irrigation District
970-903-6051 (C)
970-884-2558 (W)