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. '~ . .. RECEIVED JUL 14 1995 From: Date I July 12, 1"5 Brad Vickers, Tom Ryan Colorndo Water Conservation Board I To: All Colorado River Annual Operating Plan (AOP) Recipients CUrrent status June inUOY (wareg) (aore-feet) Midniqht Paroent Jul~ 10 of normal Blevation Fontenelle Flaming Gorge Blue Mesa Powell Navajo 413,600 589,500 579,900 4,928,700 394,600 118 125 206 166 196 6,498.93 6,028.38 7,518.61 3,686.65 6,075.14 Reservoir .toraqa (acre-feet) 290,083 3,284.,436 822,311 22,243,486 1,548,102 Expected Operation J'OIlTIDl1lIoLB - Inflow in April and May into Fontenelle Reservoir was much below average due to cool wet weather. Inflow, in June however, was high, and July inflows are also expected to be high. Releases from Fontenelle are currently 6,000 cfs with inflow being about 7,500 cfs. The reservoir is currently at 6499 feet (seven feet from full). storage in the reservoir will continue to increase during July , and Fontenelle will likely be full by the first week of August. J'LAMING GORGB - In water year 1995, Flaming Gorge is again being operated in compliance with the Final BiOlogical Opinion for the operation of Flaming Gorge Dam (FBOFGD). A six week special release for the recovery of and research on endangered fish in the Green River below the dam commenced in late May and ended the first week of July. The operational scenario for the special release this year was as follows. The goal was. to achieve extended duration of flows in the 17,000 to 18,000 cfs level on the Green River at Jensen, ut. Jensen is below the confluence of the Yampa and Green Rivers. Flaming Gorge releases were adjusted during this six .week period. While the Yampa River was below 13,000 cfs releases were. at power plant capacity of 4300 cfs. When the Yampa exceeded 13,000 cfs, rel~ases were reduced. These reductions were made because significant flooding at Jensen begins at about 18,500 cfs. On two different occasions, Flaming Gorge releases were reduced to minimum levels of 800 cfs because of high flows on the Yampa. The peak flow at Jensen this spring was 19,300 cfs with over 18,000 cfs of this flow coming from the Yampa River. Releases are now at 2800 cfs and will likely remain at this level until late in July when they will be lowered to approximately 1000 cfs. Under the current forecast, Flaming Gorge will reach an elevation of 6035 feet this summer.