WSPC12729

• 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 2004, with staff comments
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Data

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Date: September 7, 2004

From:

Water Resource Group, Salt Lake City

To:

All Colorado River Annual Operating Plan (AOP) Recipients

Current Status

August
inflow (unreg)
(Acre-Feet)

Percent
of normal

Midnight
September 6
Elevation

Fontenelle
Flaming Gorge
Blue Mesa
Powell
Navajo

56,000
60,000
28,000
176,000
o

61
56
44
29
o

6500.66
6011. 35
7485.75
3571. 48
6021. 42

Reservoir
Storage
(Acre-Feet)

304,000
2,685,000
549,000
9,227,000
925,000

Expected Operation

FONTENELLE - Inflows during August were approximately 55,700 acre-feet (61 % of normal).
The reservoir elevation has decreased about 3 feet during the month of August and releases have
been decreased to 950 cfs. The reservoir elevation will continue to decline through the fall and
winter months to near the minimum power pool elevation of 6463 feet above sea level. Releases will
likely remain steady and the current rate until March or April of2005.

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 will be scheduled for April of2005 and will likely be held in Green
River, WY. At this time the exact time and place have not been scheduled. For more information
about the Working Group, contact Ed Vidmar at 801-379-1182.

FLAMING GORGE - During the month of August unregulated inflows to Flaming Gorge Reservoir
were approximately 60,100 acre-feet (56% of normal). Forecasted inflows for September through
November are for 115,000 acre-feet of unregulated inflow (61% of normal). Releases are currently
averaging 1000 cfs each day. Fluctuations are occurring each day with peaks of approximately 1450
cfs during the afternoons and approximately 850 cfs being released during the morning and evening
hours. These fluctuations are within the recommended constraints ofthe 1992 Biological Opinion on
the Operation of Flaming Gorge Dam. Projected releases will likely be reduced to 800 cfs near the
end of September. The reservoir elevation is currently about 6011.3 feet above sea level and is
projected to rise over the fall and winter months.

The next "Flaming Gorge Working Group" meeting is to be held on April 21st, 2005 in Vernal, Utah
at 10:00 a.m.. The location will be at the Western Park Convention Center. The Working Group is a