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<br />, <br /> <br />operation of Navajo Reservoir with many interested groups participating. Anyone interested in <br />the general operation of the reservoir is encouraged to attend. For further information about <br />these meetings or the daily operations ef Navajo Reservoir please contact Ed Warner in <br />Reclamation's Grand Junction Office at (970) 248-0654. <br /> <br />Glen Canvon Dam - Water year 2000 has been dry in the Upper Colorado River basin. April <br />through July unregulated inflow into Lake Powell was only 4.35 million acre-feet, 56 percent of <br />the long term average. <br /> <br />Water year 2000, began in a dry cycle, with basin precipitation first three months (October - <br />December, 1999) being only about 30 percent of average. January, February and March, <br />however, were months with above average precipitation. In early April, hydrologic conditions in <br />the Colorado River basin were approaching average, with basin snowpack at 90 percent of <br />average, and forecasted inflow to Lake Powell at 85 percent of average. Since April, it has been <br />much drier than normal, however. Precipitation in the Colorado River basin over the past <br />4 months has been only about 50 percent of average. The result of this dry period has been less <br />inflow into Lake Powell than was forecasted in the spring. <br /> <br />Inflow to Lake Powell has been much below average since May. Unregulated inflow to Lake <br />Powell in June, July and August was only 49, 25, and 27 percent of average, respectively. <br />Inflow is forecasted to be much below average for the months of September and October as well. <br />Under the current forecast, unregulated inflow to Lake Powell in water year 2000 will be 7.3 <br />million acre-feet (62 percent of average). <br /> <br />The current elevation of Lake Powell is 3679 feet (21 feet from full poop. Current storage is <br />approximately 21 million acre-feet (86 percent of capacity). Inflow into Lake Powell is currently <br />running about 6,000 cfs. <br /> <br />Test releases from Glen Canyon Dam are now in progress. These test releases began in April <br />and will continue through the end of September. These test releases are for the benefit of <br />endangered humpback chub in the Grand Canyon and will assist in compliance with the <br />Endangered Species Act. <br /> <br />Releases, as part of this test, were relatively high during April and May of 2000. From April 8 <br />through the end of April, releases were 17,000 cfs. During May, releases were increased to <br />power plant capacity for 4 days (May 4-7). However, releases during most of May were in the <br />17,000 to 19,000 cfs range. Releases were reduced to 13,500 cis the last 4 days of May. <br />Releases from Glen Canyon were at these relatively high levels during May to create ponding at <br />the confluence between the Little Colorado and Colorado Rivers, a condition considered to be <br />favorable for creation of a favorable spawning environment for humpback chubs. <br /> <br />Releases from Glen Canyon were reduced to 8,000 cfs on June 1,2000 and have remained at this <br />level since. Releases are scheduled to remain at this level for the remainder of August and most <br />of September. These low steady summer flows' are an important component in this year's test <br />releases for native fish. These low stable flows are theorized to assist in the summer survival <br />and growth of young humpback chubs. <br /> <br />In September there were 4 days when releases were at or near powerplant capacity as part of the <br />