WSPC12728

• 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 1 2005, with staff comments
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Data

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Date: April 8, 2005

From:

Water Resource Group, Salt Lake City

To:

All Colorado River Annual Operating Plan (AOP) Recipients

Current Status

March
inflow (unreg)
(Acre-Feet)

Percent
of normal

Midnight
April 7
Elevation

Reservoir
Storage
(Acre-Feet)

Fontenelle
Flaming Gorge
Blue Mesa
Powell
Navajo

65,000
122,000
29,000
594,000
89,000

125
113
81
89
100

6474.95
6016.77
7466.02
3555.19
6048.44

141,000
2,867,000
409,000
7,963,000
1,207,000

Expected Operation

FONTENELLE - Fontenelle Reservoir is currently releasing powerplant capacity (approximately
1400 cfs depending on the reservoir elevation) and is averaging an inflow of approximately 1600 cfs.
The reservoir elevation reached a low point of 6474,26 feet above sea level on March 12th but the
elevation has since rebounded to 6474.68 due to increased inflows during the second half of March.
On March 31st releases were increased to powerplant capacity, The reservoir elevation will likely
increase slowly during April and rapidly rise during May and June as spring runoff occurs. By mid
July, the reservoir will likely be very nearly full.

The April through July inflow forecast issued April 4th, 2005, increased by 50,000 acre-feet from
the March forecast due to increased precipitation in the second half of March. The current official
April through July inflow forecast is 730,000 acre-feet (85% of normal). The operation of Fontenelle
Reservoir under this new forecast wi11likely fill Fontenelle by mid-July and wi11likely require some
controlled bypass releases be made during the spring to control the reservoir storage.

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 of Fontenelle 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, 2005 and will be held in Green River, WY at
the Wyoming Fish and Game Office(351 Astle Avenue, 307-875-3223). The meeting will begin 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 currently averaging 1000 cfs per day.
Reservoir inflows are averaging approximately 1700 cfs due in large part to powerplant capacity
releases (~1500 cfs) from Fontenelle Reservoir. The reservoir elevation of Flaming Gorge is