WSP08910

• File Number: 8282.600.40
• Description: Colorado River Annual Operating Reports
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Date: 8/1/2000
• Author: USDOI/BOR
• Title: Colorado River Reservoir Operation Status Reports Part 2
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Data

Date: August, 2000

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AUG 1 6'
, 2000
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From: Water Resource Group, Saft Lake City

To:

All Colorado River Annual Operating Plan IAOP) Recipients

Current Status

July
inflow (unreg)
(Acre-Feet)

Percent
of normal

Midnight
August 9
Elevation

Reservoir
Storage
(Acre-Feet)

Fontenel1e
Flaming Gorge
Blue Mesa
Powell
Navajo

73,000
73,000
52,000
373,000
o

34
28
40
25
o

6,496.58
6,021.88
7,500.51
3,681.49
6,066.06

274,000
3,047,000
666,000
21,476,000
1,427,000

Expected Operation

FONTENELLE - Releases from Fontenelle are currently 1025 cfs. For water year 2000, the April
Ihrough July runoff period produced a total intlow volume of 498,000 acre-feet (59% of average).
From a statistical perspective in terms of dryness, runoff periods of this magnitude occur with a
frequency of about once every 6 years. During the history of the reservoir (1967 to present), there
have been 5 years where April through July inflows were less than what occurred this year.

The water surface elevation this year reached a peak of 6497.2 feet above sea leveJ(8.8 feet below the
spillway crest). Currently, the water surface elevation is 9496.5. The elevation will gradually
decrease during the fall and winter months in preparation for next years runoff season. Fontenelle
releases will likely remain constant at about 1025 cfs until March of 2001.

FlAMING GORGE - The average daily release from Flaming Gorge is currently 1300 cfs. The
April through July runoff period for water year 2000 generated a total unregulated inflow volume of
564,000 acre-feet (48% of average). ln terms of dryness, runoffs of Ihis magnitude occur statistically
with a frequency of about once every 8 years. Since the closure of Flaming Gorge Dam( 1964), there
have been three years where the April through July unregulated inflow volume was less than the
volume observed this year.

The water surface elevation of Flaming Gorge is currently 6021.8 feet above sea level( 18.2 feet
below spillway crest) and is gradually decreasing. Over the next two month. the elevation will likely
decrease another 6 to 8 inches but will rebound in the fall and winter months. Average daily releases
will likely remain at 1300 cfs for the month of August. ln, September, releases will be decreased to
1000 cfs or possibly lower depending on hydrologic conditions.

Some hour 10 hour fluctuation in releases is now occurring. The amount of fluctuation is constrained