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<br />Reclamation schedules a spring peak release to coincide with the peak flows of the Yampa River. <br />Due to the extreme drought conditions and the needs of the endangered fish, Reclamation, under <br />consultation with the Fish and Wildlife Service, has scheduled a two day spring peak rather than a <br />seven day spring peak which is the minimum duration prescribed under the 1992 Biological <br />Opinion. <br /> <br />This test flow will save approximately 35,000 acre-feet of water that was originally planned for <br />release during the spring peak. The saved water will be released during the summer months to <br />achieve baseflow levels approximately 200 cfs higher than what was originally planned. The Yampa <br />River began to peak on about May 7th and achieved a peak flow of about 7150 cfs measured at the <br />Deerlodge gage on May 9th. The anticipated peak of the Green River measured at Jensen, Utah is <br />approximately 11,000 cfs. <br /> <br />The current reservoir elevation of Flaming Gorge is 6009.91 feet above sea level. During the spring <br />peak release, the reservoir elevation will decline by about 1.2 feet. After the spring release, the <br />elevation will begin to rise as inflows exceed releases. By the end of the summer (August 31st) the <br />reservoir elevation will likely be about 6010.2 feet above sea level. Releases after the spring peak <br />release are scheduled to be 1000 cfs on average each day. There will likely be some fluctuations <br />occurring during the summer for power production however the minimum instantaneous release rate <br />of 800 cfs will be maintained. <br /> <br />The forecasted spring inflow (Unregulated April through July Inflow Volume) was decreased for <br />May. The forecasted volume is now 510,000 acre-feet (43% of normal). Statistically, this inflow <br />volume is exceeded about 90% of the time. This will be the 5th significantly dry year in a row and <br />marks a drought condition that is unprecedented since the construction of Flaming Gorge Dam. <br />Despite the drought conditions, Flaming Gorge continues to provide water storage and delivery for <br />water consumption, recreation, wildlife, and power production and still contains about 2.64 million <br />acre-feet of water and is over 69% full. <br /> <br />The next "Flaming Gorge Working Group" meeting is to be held on August 19th, 2004 in Heber, <br />Utah at 10:00 a.m.. The location is yet to be determined. The Working Group is a forum for <br />information exchange between Reclamation and all other parties associated with the operation of <br />Flaming Gorge Reservoir. The public is encouraged to attend and express their concerns and <br />interests with regard to the operation of Flaming Gorge Reservoir. For more information about the <br />Working Group please contact Ed Vidmar at 801-379-1182. <br /> <br />ASPINALL - April unregulated inflow into Blue Mesa Reservoir was 68,000 acre-feet or 90 percent <br />of average. Drought conditions still remain the controlling factor for water management throughout <br />the region, despite the fact that precipitation during the month of April was 200 percent of average. <br />On May 1, 2004 the basin snowpack was 78 percent of average, however by May 10th the basin <br />snowpack was only 51 percent of average. With the soil moisture being severely depleted from 4 <br />years of continuous drought, we can expect of much reduced spring runoff from the already below <br />normal snowpack. The current inflow rate into Blue Mesa Reservoir is about 2800 cfs and reservoir <br />releases are averaging about 600 cfs. Blue Mesa's present elevation is 7476.06 feet, which <br />corresponds to a storage content of about 478,000 acre-feet. <br /> <br />