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<br />I <br />I <br />I <br />1 <br />I <br />1 <br />1 <br />1 <br />1 <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />1 <br />1 <br />I <br />1 <br />1 <br />1 <br />1 <br /> <br />VIII. Issues to Address <br /> <br />. Runoff and Flow Prediction ImDrovements <br /> <br />At present there are 23 SNOTEL sites located in the Upper Colorado River Basin. The sites <br />range in elevation from 8,700 feet above MSL to 11,400 feet above MSL. These sites provide a <br />fairly good indication of what the snow pack is. However, additional information on how melting <br />of the snow pack translates into stream flows would be helpful. Two rough rules of thumb have <br />emerged: (I) when the snow water equivalent peaks, streamflow at Palisade will peak <br />approximately one month later; (2) when the average daily temperature at Glenwood Springs <br />exceeds 60aF for an extended period, a peak can be expected in 3 - 4 days. <br /> <br />The NWS continued Extended Streamflow Prediction (ESP) forecasting for the Cameo Gage <br />during 1999. This added capability should help coordinated reservoir operations during the 1999 <br />runoff. Additional improvements to the extended forecast outlook would be quite helpful. <br /> <br />· Improved communications among all reservoir operators and water administration officials <br />would help. As a result, the Division 5 Engineer will be implementing the water <br />administration tool as part of CRDSS in 2000. This tool will help distribute real time <br />information concerning stream flows and reservoir operations to everyone as soon as it <br />becomes available. <br /> <br />. Coordination with the Colorado Flood Task Force <br /> <br />The Colorado Flood Task Force continually evaluates the flood potential around the state during <br />the runoff season. The Task Force employees a private consultant (Henz-Kelly) to provide <br />extended weather outlooks and also identify areas of potential flood threats. Alternatively, <br />information on reservoir operations may be useful to the Task Force. The exchange of <br />information between the coordinated reservoir operations group and the Flood Task Force should <br />be encouraged. In addition, the documentation of any flooding that may occur is of interest to <br />both groups and coordination of this effort could help stretch limited financial resources farther. <br /> <br />· Flood Warning.s and "Pinch Points" on the River Affecting Coordinated Reservoir <br />Operations <br /> <br />Several stream gages on the river have elevation levels identified on them at which flood <br />warnings are issued. However, the State of Colorado and NWS do not always agree on what that <br />elevation should be. The Coordinated Reservoir Operations Group would like to see one set of <br />flood elevation levels identified for each stream gage upon which both the State of Colorado and <br />NWS agree. <br /> <br />No flooding problems occurred as a result of CROS operations in 1999. <br /> <br />. Aerial Monitoring: <br /> <br />The USFWS obtained aerial photography of the critical habitat during 1997. . However, the <br />photography was for periods of time when the Coordinated Reservoir Operations Study was not <br />being implemented Photography taken during Coordinated Reservoir Operations and during the <br /> <br />13 <br />