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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ASPINALL - August unregulated inflow into Blue Mesa was 37,400
acre-feet or about 56 percent of average. Current inflow into Blue
Mesa is about 600 cfs. Diversions through the Gunnison Tunnel are
currently about 927 cfs, releases from Crystal Dam are about 1,726
cfs, leaving approximately SOO"cfs in the river.

On August 1S, 1996 a public meeting was held and the operation plan
for August through January 1997 was set. Flows will be reduced
from SOO cfs to 600 cfs in the Black Canyon during September 23-26
as requested by the Colorado Division of Wildlife. The next
operation meeting will be held in January 1997 at the USBR office
in Grand Junction. Anyone needing further information about this
meeting, please contact Ed Warner in the Grand Junction Area Office
at [phone].

NAVAJO - August unregulated inflow into Navajo was only 2,000
acre-feet approximately ,s""percent of aVe.rage.: Precipitation in the
San Juan Basin has been extremely low the past few months.

Currently releases-from-Navajo-areu605- cfs.} With the low amount of
inflow forecasted for the reminder of 1996, releases will probably
stay at or near 605 cfs through the rest of the water year.

The next operation meeting will be held in March 1997. Anyone
needing information about daily operations please contact Don
Fazzan or Rege Leach at the Durango Office at [phone].

GLEN CANYON - This year's April - July unregulated runoff into Lake
Powell was 7.3 MAF, 94 percent of average, a drop from the 115
percent forecasted a few months ago. August's inflow was only 47
percent of average, a result of continued extreme dry conditions
throughout much of the basin. Inflow through the fall months is
also expected to remain below average. The peak reservoir
elevation this year was 3688.31 feet, about 12 feet below full
capacity.

This summer's releases have been similar to the rest of the year,
averaging about 16,000 cfs with fluctuations between 13,000 and
19,000 cfs. R.eleaf?es for the remainder of September -1996" are'
expected to remain at an average of about 13,000 cfs, while those
for October through December will gradually increase to a daily
average of about 15,000 cfs. A special release of S,OOO cfs during
the Labor Day weekend was released to allow aerial and video
photographic mapping of the Grand Canyon.

:FQr the - next - year or "two, releases - to equal:i:~e ~ stor:age.._ between
,-Lakes Powell and- Mead are expected to control the annualreleSise.
,volume. This will likely result in releases greater than the