Spring Run-off Higher Than Normal

By John Larson

SOCORRO – The recent winter weather, although troubling for some, has been a moisture bonus for river valley farmers.
According to the New Mexico Natural resources Conservation Service, the spring runoff will be well over twice the normal amount in the Gila and, at the very least, close to average in the Rio Grande basin.
Hydrologic Technician Wayne Sleep told the Mountain Mail that “basically we’re looking pretty decent this year.
“Approximately 60 percent of our New Mexico water supply comes from snowmelt,” Sleep said. “Because of this, local communities, reservoir managers, irrigators, and many others pay close attention to our winter snowpack.”
In addition to measuring snow depth and measuring weather and climate at more than 50 remote, high-elevation sites in New Mexico, NRCS measures the water content in the snowpack.
Sleep said the moisture reading at the snow measuring station at McKnight Cabin, located on the highest peak in the Black Range in Gila National Forest “was the highest on March first than since the site started operation in 1969.
“Moisture levels in Catron County and the Gila region are at 180 to 200 percent of average. The winter weather certainly favored southern New Mexico,” he said.
“The Rio Grande basin is hovering right around 100 percent. San Marcial is right at the average forecast for this time of this year,” Sleep said. “The reservoirs upstream are in pretty good shape, even though snowfall in northern New Mexico has been a little higher than average, as well as a drier season in southern Colorado.”
In southwestern New Mexico “we’re looking at highest levels on record,” he said.
The San Francisco River is expected to be “over 200 percent of average runoff for the March to May period.”
Snowpack in the Mimbres River Basin contained 246 percent of the average water content for this time of year. In contrast, the Mimbres measured at 51 percent of average water content this time last year.
“The ongoing snowfall and weather in March will be important factors affecting water supplies for the remainder of the year,” Sleep said.
Socorro County Extension Agent Tom Dean said water for irrigation will be plentiful this year.
“This has been definitely one of our wetter winters,” Dean said. “With the information from the NRCS - the measurements being as high as they are - it will be a good irrigation season for the farmers.”
Dean said although the winter moisture is up, the next concern is the possibility of continued high moisture through the summer, which could hurt the chile growing season.
“Also keep in mind that ranchers rely heavily on summer rainfall. It’s a catch-22 situation,” he said.

Spring Run-off Higher Than Normal