WSP12932

• 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 2004
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Data

Date: May 11, 2004

From:

Water Resource Group, Salt Lake City

To:

All Colorado River Annual Operating Plan (AOP) Recipients

Current Status

April
inflow (unreg)
(Acre-Feet)

Percent
of normal

Midnight
May 10
Elevation

Reservoir
Storage
(Acre-Feet)

Fontenelle
Flaming Gorge
Blue Mesa
Powell
Navajo

66,000
85,000
68,000
817,000
149,000

71
54
90
83
86

6484.71
6009.69
7476.06
3583.25
6020.04

194,000
2,631,000
478,000
10,221,000
912,000

Expected Operation

FONTENELLE - On May 11,2004 releases from Fontenelle Reservoir began to ramp up from 750
cfs to 1250 cfs. Depending on how reservoir inflows increase, releases may be increased to
powerplant capacity (~1500 cfs) later in the month. The reservoir elevation on May 9th was 6484.4
feet above sea level and increasing. This elevation is 21.6 feet from the full pool elevation of6506
feet above sea level. The reservoir elevation will likely rise over the next 3 months and releases will
be adjusted to maintain safe elevations through the filling period. Fontenelle Reservoir will likely be
very nearly full by the end of July.

The forecasted spring inflow (April through July forecasted inflow volume) was reduced in May
from 500,000 acre-feet to 425,000 acre-feet. Scheduled releases for May and June were reduced
accordingly to provide an opportunity for Fontenelle Reservoir to fill. There is a small risk of
Fontenelle Reservoir not filling this season if the April through July inflow volume turns out to be
less than what is forecasted.

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 August 18th, 2004 at 10:30 a.m. and will at the
Seedskadee Wildlife Refuge below Fontenelle Dam. For more information about the Working
Group, contact Ed Vidmar at 801-379-1182.

FLAMING GORGE - On May 8, 2004 releases from Flaming Gorge Dam began ramping up to
powerplant capacity (about 4,400 cfs at the current reservoir elevation) for a two day spring peak
release for endangered fish. Each year, in order to comply with the 1992 Biological Opinion,