Seasonal streamflow forecasting in the Upper Rio Grande basin by incorporating the use of SNOTEL data in the SSAR hydrologic model

The SCS has calibrated a conceptual hydrologic computer model (SSARR) for the Rio Grande near Del Norte, Colorado, to determine if improvements to seasonal runoff estimates can be made. Since the model can be calibrated using data from a short time series, SNOTEL data from sites located in the high producing areas of the basin were used. Also, watershed relationships, such as soil moisture conditions, can be conceptually integrated to help reduce the forecast variability.