WSP09680

• File Number: 8282.600.10
• Description: Colorado River Operating Annual Reports
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Date: 1/1/1982
• Author: USDOI/BOR
• Title: Operation of the Colorado River Basin 1982 Projected Operations 1983
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Publication

Wayne N. Aspinall Unit [Gunnison River]
Blue Mesa Reservoir
Morrow Point Reservoir
Crystal Reservoir

Blue Mas. Oem on the Qunnleon.

Waler Voar 1982
The Wayne N. Aspinall Unll, formerly Ihe
Curecantl Unit, Includes Blue Mesa, Morrow
PoInt, and Crystal Reservoir. Blue Mesa
provIdes nearly all of thslang-term regulatIon
for all three powerplants. Morrow Po\nt
provides peaking powor, and thus has highly
variable releases. The primary function of
Crystal Reservoir Is to reregulate the variable
Morrow Point releases.

At Ihe end of Seplember 1981, Blue Mesa
Reservoir contained 376,100 acre-feet of
active storage with a water surface elevation
of 7461 'oel. ThO April through July 1982
runoff above Blue Mesa was 742,000
acre-teet, 96 percent at the long-term
average. The total water year runoff of
1,070,000 acre-teel was approxlmataly equal
to the long-term average. The water surface
elevation of Blue Mesa reached a maximum of
7509 feet In June 1982, with a conlent of
739,100 acre-feet. No water bypassed the
powerplant during water year 1982.

fhe drawdown for power operations and river
'egulatlon was great enough that no further
Ipace evacuation for flood control was
'equlred. During water year 1982, all flows In
he GunnIson RIver below the Gunnison
runnel were greater than 200 cfs, the
nln/mum dlscharge'requlred to protect the
Ishery In the river.

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Waler Veor 1983
Assuming average Inflow for wa.ter year 1983,
Blue Mesa Reservoir Is expected to reach a
low of 7463 feet with an active storage of
approximately 392,000 acre-feet In March,
The reservoir Is proJected 10 fill to Its
maximum storage of 829,000 acre-faet al
elevation 7519 feet.

Morrow PoInt Reservoir will operate at or nesr
Its capacity during the current year. Crystal
Reservoir will also operate nearly full except
tor dally fluctuatlono needed In regulating Iha
releases for Morrow Point and to meet
downstream requirements for fish habitat and
diversions through the Gunnison Tunnel.

Assuming average runoff conditions, releases
from Crystal ResaNolr will be maintained at
powerplant capacity of about 1,600 cfs, Undar
lower quartile runoff conditions, releases will
range from the minimum ot 1,000 cis to a
maximum of 1 ,700 cts. If the Inflow Is above
average, It will be necessary to bypass the
powerplant.

Blue Mesa Acliva Storage"
Reservoir (Acre-Feet)

Maximum Storage 829,523
Rated Head 249,395
Minimum Power 81,070
Surface Area (Full) 9,180 Acres
Reservoir Length
(Full)
Power Plant
Number of Units 2
Total Capacity 60,000 Kilowatts
'~~~n~~~~'~e 111.232 aer.leel 0' dead stor.ge

Chart 3
EI.(Ft.\
7519
7438
7393

24 Miles

Morrow Point Active Slorage"
Maximum Storage 117,025
Rated Head 79,805
Minimum Power 74,905
Surface Area (Full) 817 Acres
Reservoir Length
(Full)
Power Plant
Number of Units 2
Total Capacity 120,000 Kilowatts
"does nol Include 165 aera-reet 01 dead storage
below 6808 'eet
Crystal Active Storage"
Maximum Storage 17,573
Rated Head 13,886
Minimum Power 10,619
Surfaca Area (Full) 301 Acres
Reservoir Length
(Full)
Power Plant
Number of Units 1
Total Capacity 28,000 Kilowatts
'g~~w ngJ~o1~ue~e S,2OO aere.feel 01 dead storage

7160
7108
7100

11 Miles

6755
6742
6729

7 Miles