WSP10138

• File Number: 8282.600.40
• Description: Colorado River Annual Operating Reports
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Date: 6/1/1996
• Author: USDOI/BOR
• Title: Colorado River Reservoir Operation Status Reports Part 2
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Data

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Date: August 9, 1996

RECEIVED
AUG 1 2 1996

From: Water Resource Group, Salt Lake City

Colorado Water
To: All Colorado River Annual Operating Plan C~~'ffi'i'fo~5pients

Current Status

July
inflow (unreg)
(acre-feet)

Percent
of normal

Midnight
Augus t 8
Elevation

Reservoir storage
(acre-feet)

Fontenelle
Flaming Gorge
Blue Mesa
Powell
Navajo

259,500
293,600
92,700
1,227,200
35,900

120
111
72
81
20

6,503.76
6,031.54
7,512.95
3,685.38
6,054.45

327,026
3,406,062
771,462
22,052,982
1,274,402

Expected Operation

FONTENELLE - Releases from Fontenelle are currently at maximum
powerplant capacity of 1500 cfs. Releases will likely remain at
this level until late in September.

Fontenelle Reservoir is now essentially full with only 2 feet of
vacant space.

FLAMING GORGE - Releases from Flaming Gorge Reservoir are now at
1300 cfs. Releases are being made at this level so that a target
flow of 1800 cfs will be achieved on the Green River near Jensen,
Ut. Jensen is below the confluence of the Green and Yampa Rivers.
This flow level (1800 cfs) is being targeted in the attempt to
optimize backwater habitats for young Colorado Squawfish.

Releases from Flaming Gorge will be adjusted through the late
summer and early fall to maintain the 1800 cfs target flow level.
As flows on the Yampa River drop further, Flaming Gorge releases
will be gradually increased.

In water year 1996, Flaming Gorge is again being operated in
compliance with the Final Biological Opinion for the Operation of
Flaming Gorge Dam (FBOFGD). Water year 1996 is the last year in
the five year research period, through which recommendations for
winter and spring operations at the dam:will be based.

Open forum discussions on Flaming Gorge operations have been taking