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Wayne N. Aspinall Unit (Gunnison River) Blue Mesa Reservoir Morrow Point Reservoir Crystal Reservoir Water Year 1985 The Wayne N. Aspinall Unit is comprised of Blue Mesa, Morrow Point, and Crystal Reservoirs. Blue Mesa provides nearly all of the long. term regulation for all three powerplants. Morrow Point is used for ,shlng on Blue Mesa Reservoir o peaking power production, and thus has highly variable releases. Reregulation of Morrow Point releases is the primary function of Crystal Reservoir. Spillway modification of Blue Mesa's spill- way was in progress at the beginning of water year 1985. Work was scheduled to be completed by the end ot June which necessitated a conservative operation of Blue Mesa so that the spillway work would not be endangered by a possible spill. The reservoir was gradually lowered from elevation 7515.0 feet to 7500.0 feet from October 1 to January 1, 1985. The January 1 forecast for April-July called for 970,00 acre-feet inflow which is 142 percent of the 20.year average from 1961-80. Releases for the January-April period averaged 2,300 cfs per day in order to draw the reservoir down. The forecast slowly decreased from January's 142 percent to March with a 125 percent April-July inflow, and then increased to 152 percent by the end of July. The weather pattern was one of alternating dry and wet periOdS through May. By mid-May this pattern changed to unseasonably warm and dry and continued through July. Inflow peaked on June 9 at 9,880 cfs. Releases were lowered to 1,600 cfs per day in May to help reduce flooding on the lower Gunnison River and were increased in June and July to 2,800 and 2,200 cfs per day, respectively, to allow for space due to spillway construction. Side inflows to Morrow Point and Crystal Reservoirs increased rapidly in April and continued through June. The April-July side inflow to Morrow Point was 193 percent of average (114,000 acre-feet) while Crystal's side inflow was 216 percent of average (190,000 acre-feet). The peak unregulated inflow to Crystal was 14,600 cfs and the peak discharge through Crystal Dam was 6,500 cfs on June 9, which was a reduction of 8,100 cIs. Blue Mesa and Crystal powerplants were operated at or near capacity from January through July. Total releases for the water year from Morrow Point were 1.595 maf with all going through the powerplant. Water year release from Crystal Dam totaled 1.863 maf of which 605,000 acre-feet bypassed the power. plant. Water Year 1986 . Blue Mesa powerplant will be operated to minimize powerplant bypasses at Crystal Dam. Assuming near average water supply conditions in water year 1986, a low elevation of 7457.8 feet is expected by the end of March with a maximum elevation of 7514.6 feet in July. Crystal powerplant will be operated at full capacity throughout 1986. reregulating Morrow Point's peaking power releases. Powerplant bypasses are not expected based on the most probable water supply. Releases below Crystal will be approximately 1,700 cfs per day. Blue Mesa Active Storage' Chart 3 Reservoir Maximum Storage Rated Head Minimum Power Surface Area (Full) Reservoir Length (Full) Powerplant Number of Units 2 Total Capacity 60,000 Kilowatts . Does nor InClude 111,232 acre-leet or dead storage bebw 7358 reel. Acre.Feet EI. (Ft.) 829,523 7519 249,395 7438 81,070 7393 9,180 Acres 24 Miles Morrow Point Active Storage' Maximum Storage Rated Head Minimum Power Surface Area (Full) Reservoir Length (Full) Powerplant Number of Units 2 Total Capacity 120,000 Kilowatts 'Does nOl,nClude 165 acre.leel 01 dead storage belo.... 5808 reel 117,025 79,805 74,905 817 7160 7108 7100 Acres 11 Miles Crystal Point Active Storage' Maximum Storage Rated Head Minimum Power Surface Area (Full) Reservoir Length (Full) Powerplant Number of Units Total Capacity 28,000 Kilowatts 'Does nor Include 7,700 acre feel 01 dead storage nero.... 6670 leel 17,573 13,886 10,619 301 6755 6742 6729 Acres 7 Miles