Use of snow survey reports in predicting snow runoff

A discussion of meteorological occurrences of flood and drought over the Rio Grande river basin is presented. It is pointed out that for the lack of sufficient data to prove any long time or even short cyclic occurrences of weather pattern, the prediction lacks a solid mathematical basis. Historical data from archaeological findings are quoted. The beneficial use of short term (15 year) averages of snow survey, temperature, wind movement, and soil moisture data produce a good forecast of streamflow during the melt season. The economical value of advance information for regulating irrigation reservoirs is pointed out as a distinct value to both power and irrigation interests.