The Glenwood post., 1922-03-16
IRRIGATION ! wATT:;'::':'
GOOD FOR SEASON
saswfa|I Almost Normal in
Mountains According to
Best Reports
PROSPECTS ARE GOOD

The depth of snow in the mountains
is reported by the forest service as
about normal for this time Of year.
Twenty-four Snow boards are main
tanned throughout the mountains in the
vicinity of Red Cliff, Eagle, and Asp
en-, also on the Crystal and Frying
Pan rivers. Each month measurements
are taken on the boards, the water
content is estimated and the resulting
figures are compared with readings
taken from the same boards in former
years.
Four of the snow boards show read
ings somewhat greater than normal for
this time Of year and eleven boards
show less. Nine of the measurements
show the depth to be normal for
March readings. The greatest depth
reported is SO inches on a board To-
Gated on the Crystal river just above
Marble, while the lowest depth re-
ported is inches. The water coneent
of the snow is estimated in each case
and these readings vary from 1s per
cent to 80 per cent. There has been
no marked settling of the snow as yet
and the water content will Of course
become greater as this settling oceurs.
The indications are that the higher
mountains are well filled with snow
while the foothills show a shortage.
This will insure gradual and pro
longed run-off of water in the streams,
since the high country always melts
slowly. Spring floods are invariably
due to the rapid run-off from the sud
den melting of snow in the foothills
and lower country. An early opening
of the lower ranges is assured the
stockmen in this part of the country
by the snowscale measurements thus
far taken.
The reports coming from the forest
service tally very closely with reports
received by A. j. Dickson, division
irrigation engineer, from water com
missioners and deputies of the various
water districts in water division No.
5, comprising the Colorado river water
shed.
Mr.. Dickson has recently been solicit
ing information on this subject, with a
view to presenting the same to the
state engineer who will make . report
to a special committee now in Wash
ington, headed by Herbert Hoover,
who will make its findings to the
League Of the Southwest, soon to meet
in convention in Phoenix, Afisona.
The following are some Of tho an
swers Mr.. Dickson has received from
his recent letter Of inquiry sent to
various irrigation officials:
Earl McGlochlin. of Gypsum, water
commissioner of water district No. 81
From my personal observation and
inquiry I find that there is nearly -
much SNOW in feet in the hills now a.
there was this time last year especial
ly in the pine timber bolt. It L. also
much more solid than it was last year
at this time.
"Our December weather made the
snow eoft and wet, and then . cold
spell froze it, making II nearly like
ice. As for Eagle county I believe the
prospects are ~ good for water -
they were last year. OF course or
spring weather will have much to Do
with its lasting quality"
I. ". Graham, Of Rifle, water COM
missioner Of water district No. 30, un-
der date Of March 4, ssys:
"Ths snowfall ON tho head Of the
streams in this district is normal q
the present time. Unless NO have a
carry runoff, there will b ~ good q
supply = last yeaz. I think evsey.
thing psiats 70 . god year,"
0ss. T. Newton, Of DsBsqus, waese
comnissionsf for water district No. 70,
writcs ~ folleWu:
''Krea inforAatiea I hsvs reSsevea
esasera1ng the probable ysass NV
anR MAsef - tAs vasisss steeans ines
the CplosaAo fivss, .aaA ~ ansaat q
Sasw - ~ stsssas q tAslk Aaals. Z