Rockies Snowpack Melting Quickly In Record Heat - ENS

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SANTA FE, New Mexico, May 31, 2005 (ENS) - "Record hot weather is melting the Rocky Mountain snowpack quickly, swelling rivers and streams in western Colorado and central and eastern New Mexico, including the Animas, the La Plata River and all waterways in the San Juan River Basin. A reging Animas River forced the city of Farmington, New Mexico and Riverfest organizers to scale back this year’s annual Memorial Day weekend Riverfest celebration. The Animas river overflowed its bank Saturday for the first time in at least 15 years.

On May 25, New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson surveyed areas and communities of northern New Mexico threatened by potential flooding due to extreme spring runoff levels. The governor toured the San Juan River Basin, Animas River, and the La Plata River near Farmington and Cabresto Creek, Cabresto Lake dam, and the communities near Questa.

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Colorado snowpack levels statewide over the weekend were 106 percent of the 30 year average. The snowpack in the Upper Rio Grande Basin in southwest Colorado was 166 percent of average. Temperatures Sunday in Grand Junction hit a record 94 degrees for the date, breaking the previous record of 91 set in 1967, the National Weather Service said.

Water levels are running high along the Upper Rio Grande River at Del Norte and Alamosa in southcentral Colorado. The National Weather Service says river levels are expected to remain within their banks, but high flows can still be dangerous. Tom Browning of the Colorado Water Conservation Board said areas being monitored for flooding include north and south Grand Mesa, the Rio Grande basin, the eastern San Luis Valley, the San Juan Mountains and the southern Arkansas River basin."

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http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/may2005/2005-05-31-09.asp#anchor2