Laserfiche WebLink
<br />002359 <br /> <br />the reserved water right claim for the Black Canyon ofthe Gunnison National Park has not yet been <br />quantified. <br /> <br />For water year 2005 the Aspinall Unit will be operated in accordance with the Colorado River <br />Storage Project Act to conserve storage while meeting downstream delivery requirements, Under <br />normal conditions, the minimum release objectives of the Aspinall Unit are to meet the delivery <br />requirements of the Uncompahgre Valley Project to maintain a year round minimum flow of300 cfs <br />(8.5 cms) in the Gunnison River through the Black Canyon and to maintain a minimum flow of300 <br />cfs (8,5 cms) in the 2-mile reach below the Redlands Diversion Dam during the months of July <br />through October. In dry years, the 300 cfs (8.5 cms) flow through the canyon and the 2-mile reach <br />can be reduced pursuant to the appropriate decree or MOA. In 2005, under the most probable inflow <br />conditions, flows through the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park will be above the <br />minimum release objective during the summer months. To protect both the blue ribbon trout fishery <br />in the Black Canyon and recreational interests, releases during 2005 will be planned to minimize <br />large fluctuations in the daily and monthly flows in the Gunnison River below the Gunnison Tunnel <br />diversion. <br /> <br />Under the minimum probable inflow scenario, Blue Mesa Reservoir is not expected to fill in 2005. <br />Under the most probable and maximum probable inflow scenarios, Blue Mesa Reservoir is expected <br />to fill in 2005. <br /> <br />Navajo Reservoir <br /> <br />Drought conditions continued to persist in the San Juan River Basin during 2004 which resulted in <br />less than average runoff volumes into the basin. The April through July unregulated inflow into <br />Navajo Reservoir in water year 2004 was 0.529 maf (652 mcm), or 67 percent of average. Water <br />year 2004 unregulated inflow was 0.806 maf (993 mcm) or 72 percent of average. The San Juan <br />River Basin is continuing to experience an extended dry cycle. Unregulated inflow to Navajo <br />Reservoir in water years 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2003 was 40, 93, 10, and 43 percent of average, <br />respectively. Storage in Navajo Reservoir has been significantly reduced due to these protracted <br />drought conditions. Reservoir live storage on September 30, 2004, was 55 percent of capacity, but <br />only 27 percent of active capacity. The water surface elevation at Navajo Reservoir on <br />September 30,2004, was 6,022.5 feet (1,835.7 meters). <br /> <br />The final report titled "Flow Recommendations for the San Juan River" (Flow Recommendations), <br />which outlines flow recommendations for the San Juan River below Navajo Dam, was completed by <br />the San Juan River Basin Recovery hnplementation Program (SJRIP) in May 1999. The report <br />synthesizes research conducted on endangered fish in the San Juan River over a 7-yearperiod. The <br />purpose of the report is to provide flow recommendations for the San Juan River that promote the <br />recovery ofthe endangered Colorado pikeminnow and razorback sucker, maintain important habitat <br />for these two species as well as the other native species, and provide information for the evaluation <br />of continued water development potential in the basin. The Fish and Wildlife Service in June 2004 <br />issued a non-jeopardy draft biological opinion for the operations of Navajo Dam to meet the Flow <br />Recommendations, or reasonable alternative. <br /> <br />12 <br />