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... These meetings are open forum discussions on the Aspinall Unit reservoir operations with many interested groups participating. Anyone needing further information about these meetings should contact Dan Crabtree in the Grand Junction Area Office at (970) 248-0652. NA V AJO - Based on the April spring runoff forecast for Navajo Reservoir, Reclamation will begin increasing the releases from the reservoir in late April. Releases are expected to remain at 500 cubic feet per second (cfs) until then. The spring release pattern and magnitude will follow the recommendations provided for by the San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program (SJRlP) Flow Recommendations for Endangered Fish. Even with the scheduled high releases, the reservoir is expected to fill this year, Reservoir operating rules - which take into account the current storage level of the reservoir, the projected inflow into the reservoir, and the estimated demand for the year - call for the maximum release pattern to be implemented, This correlates to a maximum release of 5,000 cfs from the reservoir for 21 consecutive days, with a ramp up and ramp down period. The purpose of this release design is to better mimic natural (pre-dam) runoff conditions. Reclamation will begin ramping up on April 27, 2005. The initial ramp up will consist of an increase of 500 cfs over a one-day period, then holding at that rate (1,000 cfs) for a week, followed by a one- day increase of 1,000 cfs, and holding at that rate (2,000 cfs) for another week. Subsequent 1,000 cfs increases will be made weekly until a maximum release of5,000 cfs is reached on May 25,2005. Releases will remain at 5,000 cfs until June 15,2005, at which time releases will be ramped down over a two-week period. Releases are expected to be back to the base summer release on approximately June 29, 2005. The base summer release will not be less than 350 cfs, and may be higher depending on the reservoir storage level at that time. It should be noted that this scheduled release pattern is based on the April 2005 forecast. The proposed release plan will be updated as inflow forecasts are updated. A change in weather patterns could impact the final release pattern. Also, adjustments may be made to the releases if significant precipitation occurs during the scheduled release period. As such, this release plan is subject to change, The public will be notified once the spring release is finalized. Reclamation will continue to closely monitor the hydrologic conditions in the basin. As such, this scheduled release change is subject to changes in river flows and weather conditions. The current hydrologic conditions continue to be wet. As of April 4, 2005, the upper San Juan basin snowpack stood at 150 percent of average and 141 percent of average for the Animas River basin. Precipitation for the month of March was recorded at 90 percent of average, which resulted in about normal inflow into Navajo Reservoir for March, Unregulated inflow was 89,000 acre-feet, or 100 percent of average for March. This raised the elevation of the reservoir 7.05 feet during the month. Currently, the daily reservoir inflow is averaging about 1,800 cfs and reservoir releases are set at 500 cfs. The reservoir water surface elevation is 6046.76 feet, which corresponds to a storage content of about 1,188,000 acre-feet. On April 4, 2005, the National Weather Service's River Forecast Center issued an updated unregulated inflow forecast for Navajo Reservoir for the April through July runoff period. This forecast is projecting a volume runoff into the reservoir of 1,320,000 acre-feet, which represents a 165 percent of normal runoff for the upper San Juan Basin. The reservoir is projected to fill, while also providing the maximum spring release rates (21 days at 5,000 cfs) for endangered fish as determined by the Flow Recommendations. There would be no shortages to Navajo Reservoir water contract users using this forecast.