WSPC12730

• 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 2003, with staff comment
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Data

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Date: February 10, 2003

FEB 1 2003

From:

Water Resource Group, Salt Lake City

Cciorado W2t~(

To: All Colorado River Annual Operating Plan (AOP) Recipients

Current Status

January
inflow (unreg)
(Acre-Feet)

Percent
of normal

Midnight
February 9
Elevation

Reservoir
Storage
(Acre-Feet)

Fontenelle
Flaming Gorge
Blue Mesa
Powell
Navajo

25,000
30,000
18,000
236,000
12,400

81
67
71
58
55

6,484.71
6,009.38
7,446.46
3,613.82
6,008.63

194,000
2,621,000
293,000
13,119,000
810,000

Expected Operation

The Water Supply Forecast for Fontenelle Reservoir is calling for an April through July inflow
volume of 510,000 acre-feet (59% of normal). The reservoir elevation will steadily decline until
early next spring when the snowmelt runoff begins. At the current rate of decline, with releases
remaining at 650 cfs and assuming the current forecasted inflow projections, the reservoir should
reach a low of about 6484 feet above sea level by early next spring. This will be about 19 feet above
the normal drawdown target for this time of year. By the end of July 2003, the reservoir will likely
be very nearly full. .

FONTENELLE - The inflow volume into Fontenelle Reservoir for the month of January was
25,400 acre-feet (81 % of average). The water surface elevation decreased from 6487.79 on January
1,2003 to 6485.33 on January 31, 2003. Releases during the month of January were steady at about
650 cfs and the total volume released during December
was 40,300 acre-feet.

Open forum discussions on Fontenelle operations take place at the "Fontenelle Reservoir Working
Group" meetings. The next Working Group meeting is scheduled for April 9th, 2003 at 10:00 am. at
the Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge. All those interested in the operation of Fontenelle
Reservoir are encouraged to attend this meeting. For more
information about the Working Group, contact Ed Vidmar at 801-379-1182.

FlAMING GORGE - During January, the unregulated inflows into Flaming Gorge increased
somewhat over December's levels. For January the unregulated inflow was 30,000 acre-feet (67% of
normal) compared to 22,000 acre-feet for December. The reservoir elevation on January 1, 2003
was 6009.70 and by the end of January (January 31st) the reservoir elevation was 6009.55 (30.45
feet below the top of the spillway gates). The reservoir content is currently 70% of full capacity.
Releases during January remained steady at about 800 cfs and no fluctuating release patterns