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<br />G00393 <br /> <br />Proposed Operating Criteria <br />Colorado River Storage Project <br />Aspinall Unit <br />February 26,2003 <br /> <br />Operation of the Aspinall Unit, consistent with the following principles will fully <br />serve National Park Service reserved water right requirements in the Gunnison River and <br />serve as the Aspinall Unit contribution to Gunnison River flow requirements for all listed <br />Colorado River fishes-:-The operatIOn of (ht: ~ina 11 T Tnit according to these principles in 0 <br />addition to Cht: ltiPRAP ulc1.l1aoCmCnt aefleRS will serve as the ReasaRable anrl Pn1rlf>nt~ <br />A!tt:111ative for the operatIOn of tin;; AspiRall Umt, ill eKistiRg feaeml ttnd llou-ft:deral <br />depleti0F1s Vvl.thin Hl", Gunnison River tlasin Cl.uJ MI tile. elttire Dolef6s Pr-9je,*. <br />Operations shall be consistent with the purposes described in the Colorado River Storage <br />Project Act or 1956 (CRSP). Forecasted inflow into Blue Mesa Reservoir shall continue <br />to be a primary factor in assessing management actions. In a d with th~ric <br />depletions and section 7 agreement ofthe RIP. (defi against ar~;nenf you can't <br />prejudge section consultation-we're not ~iaing by sect~~greement). <br /> <br />Blue Mesa Dam & Reservoir <br />1. Storage: <br />a. The goal is to have Blue Mesa full (at elevation 7519.40 feet above <br />MSL and live storage contents of 829,000 AF) by July 31 5t of each <br />year. <br />b. The goal is to draw Blue Mesa Storage down to 581,000 AF of live <br />storage (elevation 7490 feet above MSL or subsequent numbers as <br />determined by scientific criteria) by December 31 5t of each year in <br />order to avoid upstream ice jam flooding between December 1 and <br />April 30th of each year. <br />c. Additional drawdown below 581,000 AF of live storage (elevation <br />7490 feet above MSL) may occur if the runoff forecast indicates <br />such is required to provide the reservoir space required to safely <br />manage the anticipated runoff and minimize downstream flood <br />potential. <br />d. Pursuant to the Colorado River and Upper Colorado River <br />Compacts, Colorado is entitled to develop certain waters of <br />Gunnison Basin. It is understood that Reclamation will be able to <br />develop the marketable yield in accord with the authorizing <br />legislation and other documents governing the operation of the <br />Aspinall Unit. <br /> <br />e. Maintain reservoir levels above minimum power pool. <br /> <br />f. Given the importance of the Aspinall Unit and the Curecanti <br />National Recreation Area to the regional economy, reservoir <br />operations will, to the extent consistent with the Colorado River <br />