At the time of publishing The Pagosa Springs Sun website was down so I couldn’t get a deep link to the article.
From the Pagosa Springs Sun (Clayton Chaney):
The voluntary drought stage was first announced in a press release on April 12.
Ramsey notes in his May 11 press release that the area has seen “higher than normal temperatures” this spring, which “will lead to a quicker than normal melting of the snowpack reducing our available water and could lead to water use restrictions.”
There are no water use restrictions in place under the voluntary drought stage; however, PAWSD does encourage responsible water use…
River report
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the San Juan River was flowing at a rate of 684 cfs in Pagosa Springs as of 3 p.m. on Wednesday, May 12.
Based on 85 years of water records at this site, the average flow rate for this date is 1,150 cfs.
The highest recorded rate for this date was 3,920 cfs in 1941. The lowest recorded rate was 156 cfs, recorded in 2002.
As of 3 p.m. on Wednesday, May 12, the Piedra River near Arboles was flowing at a rate of 536 cfs.
Based on 58 years of water records at this site, the average flow rate for this date is 1,140 cfs.
The highest recorded rate was 3,460 cfs in 1973. The lowest recorded rate was 92.7 cfs in 2002.
Snow report
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Water and Climate Center’s snowpack report, the Wolf Creek summit, at 11,000 feet of elevation, had 20.8 inches of snow water equivalent as of 3 p.m. on May 12.
That amount is 63 percent of the May 12 median for this site.
The average snow water equivalent for this date at the Wolf Creek summit is 33.2 inches.
