WSP12931

• File Number: 8282.600.40
• Description: Colorado River AOP Status Report
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Author: USDOI/BOR
• Title: Colorado River Reservoir Operations Status Reports Partial Part 2 2005
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Data

Date: October 7, 2005

From:

Water Resource Group, Salt Lake City

To:

All Colorado River Annual Operating Plan (AOP) Recipients

Current Status

September
inflow (unreg)
(Acre - Feet)

Percent
of normal

Midnight
October 6
Elevation

Fontenelle
Flaming Gorge
Blue Mesa
Powell
Navajo

33,000
36,000
25,000
323,000
26,000

62
55
69
68
66

6491.92
6025.29
7490.19
3602.01
6072.59

Reservoir
Storage
(Acre-Feet)

241,000
3,171,000
583,000
11,943,000
1,517,000

Expected Operation

FONTENELLE - Releases from Fontenelle Reservoir are currently 1010 cfs and will be decreased
during the month of October to 875 cfs. As of October 4th, the reservoir elevation is 6492.1 feet
above sea level (13.9 feet from full pool) and is decreasing at about 1 foot per week.

The inflow forecast for October, November and December dropped this month from 128,000 acre-
feet (100% of normal) to 85,000 acre-feet (66% of normal). Based on the new forecast, releases must
be decreased so that the reservoir elevation will be drawn down to minimum power pool (6463 feet
above sea level) by next March. The Colorado River Forecast Center has issued an outlook forecast
for water year 2006 that is 81 % of normal. This outlook forecast is the basis for the 24 month study
operation beyond the current 3 month forecast.

Open forum discussions on Fontenelle operations take place at the "Fontenelle Reservoir Working
Group" meetings. The Working Group is a forum for information exchange between Reclamation
and other parties associated with the operation ofFontenelle Reservoir. The public is encouraged to
attend and express their concerns and interests with regard to Fontenelle Reservoir operation. The
next Working Group meeting is scheduled for April 19, 2006 and will be held at the Seedskadee
National Wildlife Refuge at 10:00 am. For more information about the Fontenelle Working Group,
contact Ed Vidmar at 801-379-1182.

FLAMING GORGE -Releases from Flaming Gorge Dam are averaging 1400 cfs on average each
day with peak fluctuations for power generation occurring each afternoon up to 1600 cfs. Night time
releases are being reduced to approximately 1000 cfs. The reservoir elevation is declining slowly
and is currently (10/04/2005) 6025.3 feet above sea level (15.7 feet from full pool).