WSP11820

• File Number: 8282.600.10
• Description: Colorado River Operating Annual Reports
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Date: 1/1/1995
• Author: USDOI/BOR
• Title: Operation of the Colorado River Basin 1995 Projected Operations 1996
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Publication

NAVAJO RESERVOIR
(SAN JUAN RIVER)

Water Year 1995

The elevation of Navajo Reservoir at tbe beginning of tbe
water year was t848.4 meters (6064.4 feet) with 1,727 million
cubic meters (1,400,000 acre-feet) of live storage (83 percent
of capacity). At tbe end of water year 1995, tbe elevation
was 1851.9 meters (6075.6 feet) witb 1,919 million cubic
meters (1,556,000 acre-feet) of live storage (92 percent of
capacity).

Actual inflow to Navajo Reservoir for water year 1995 was
1,856 million cubic meters (1,505,000 acre-feet), 157 percent
of average. Peak inflow into Navajo Reservoir occurred on
June 18, 1995, at 303 cubic meters per second (10,700 cubic
feet per second). The reservoir reached a peak elevation of
1853.0 meters (6079.4 feet) on July 28, 1995. Tbe April
through July inflow into Navajo Reservoir in water year 1995
was 1,236 million cubic meters (1,001,800 acre-feet) or 152
percent of average. Navajo Reservoir fIlled in July 1995.

ACTUAL RELEASES 1995

IIIWOIf CUBIC tlrftM
-

THOUSAND ACIII!-PUT
401

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400

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II

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Section 7 consultation with the Fisb and Wildlife Service on
the operation of Navajo Darn continued in 1995. Water year
1995 was tbe fiftb year of a 7-year study to evaluate
alternative operations of Navajo Reservoir to bene\it
endangered \ish. In accordance witb this 7-year study, spring
operations of Navajo were modified in 1995 and large
releases of up to 141.6 cubic meters per second (5,000 cubic
feet per second) were made during much of May and June
to coincide witb tbe peak flows of tbe Animas River to study
the effect of large spring flows on tbe habitat improvement
and spawning success of endangered endemic species of \isb.
This resulted in flows of over 339.8 cubic meters per second
(12,000 cubic feet per second) at Bluff, Utah. After tbe
completion of the large spring releases, flows were reduced
to approximately 22.7 cubic meters per second (800 cubic
feet per second) for the remainder of the year.

NAVAJO RESERVOIR

Reservoir

. Storage- Capacity -- - 2,092 million cubic meters (1,696,400 aererrect) - -
Nonnal Pool Elevation 1854.6 melcl'li (~.o fect)
Surface Area, full 6,317 hectares (15,610 acres)
ResetvOir Length, (ull 53 kilometer.; (33 miles)

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