WSPC12731

• File Number: 8282.600.40
• Description: Colorado River AOP Status Report
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Date: 6/7/2000
• Author: USDOI/BOR
• Title: Colorado River Reservoir Operations Status Report June 2000, with staff comments
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Data

From:

~ Date: June 7, 2000
-------------- .
'-,.
Water Resource Group, Salt Lake City \

All Colorado River Annual Operating Plan (AOP) Recipients

~---~

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v

JUN f ? ?('f1()

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C~nservabon Beato

To:

Current Status

May
inflow (unreg)
(Acre-Feet)

. Percent
of normal

Midnight
June 6
Elevation

Reservoir
Storage
(Acre-Feet)

Fontenelle
Flamlng Gorge
Blue Mesa
Powell
Navajo

155,000
179,000
228,000
1,674,000
166,000

84
62
106
75
59

6,488.97-
6,023.25
7,506.89
3,680.87
6,074.61

221,000
3,096,000
719,000
21,385,000
1,546,000

Expected Operation

FONTENELLE - The spring runoff is now in full swing in the Upper Green River basin as inflows
increased from 1200 cfs to over 5000 cfs the last week of May. Releases from Fontenelle are
currently at power plant capacity (-1600 cfs). It is likely that releases will be maintained at this level
for the remainder of June depending on hydrologic conditions. The water surface elevation has
increased by nearly 15 feet in the past two weeks. As of June 5, 2000 the water surface elevation
was about 6489 feet above sea level.

The June forecasted April through July inflow into Fontenelle Reservoir is calling for 525,000
acre-feet(62% of average), which is 50,000 acre-feet less th~ the previous month. Despite dryer
than normal conditions in the Upper Green River Basin, it is anticipated that Fontenelle will be very
. nearly full by mid August.

FlAMING GORGE - The average daily release from Flaming Gorge Reservoir is presently
decreasing at 400 cfs/day. Daily releases peaked this year at 4600 cfs (power plant capacity) during
the period from May 23, 2000 to June 5, 2000. Releases will continue to be decreased at the present
rate until June 14,2000 when the average daily release will be 1300 cfs. The average daily release
will be maintained at 1300 cfs forthe remainder of June. It is likely that the average daily release
will be increased in July and August to 1600 cfs to provide additional power generation during these
two months. .

Some hour to hour fluctuations in releases will occur during the downramp period (June 6th through
June 13th) as well as for the remainder of the summer. The amount of fluctuation will continue to be
constrained by the 1992 Flaming Gorge Biological Opinion (FGBO) which states that flows on the
Green River near Jensen,_ Utah shall change by no more than plus or minus 12.5 percent of the daily