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<br />COLORADO BASIN <br /> <br />Basinwide Conditions Assessment <br />The SWSI value for the month was 2.3. The Natural <br />Resources Conservation Service reports that May 1 <br />snowpack is 120% of normal. Flow at the gaging station <br />Colorado River near Dotsero was 1784 cfs, as compared to <br />the long-term average of 1779 cfs. Storage in Green <br />Mountain, Ruedi, and Williams Fork reservoirs totaled 125% <br />of normal as of the end of April. <br /> <br />Outlook <br />Reservoir operators continue to open storage space <br />for anticipated heavy run-off. Green Mountain Reservoir <br />release was increased by 110 cfs to 600 cfs on April 28th, <br />due to rapid level increases from above-average run-off. <br />Ruedi Reservoir release was also increased by 90 cfs to 325 <br />cfs on April 22. Cooler spring temperatures in the region have <br />slowed the run-off rate, and that runoff will therefore be seen <br />later in the season. <br /> <br />Administrative/Manaqement Concerns <br />The Shoshone hydroelectric power plant resumed <br />operation on April 30th, following the penstock rupture on <br />June 20th of last year. The reopening of the 14 megawatt <br />plant will restore benefits to fish, rafters, and other water <br />users along the river. <br /> <br />Public Use Impacts <br />The forecast 45-50 foot elevation rise in Lake Powell <br />continues to look accurate based on current snow pack <br />levels in the Gunnison, Green, San Juan, Yampa, White, and <br />upper Colorado rivers. The significant rise will soon allow <br />boaters to use the Castle Rock Cut marina, creating shorter <br />access to upper lake destinations like Rainbow Bridge <br />National Monument. The forecast elevation rise will also <br />increase the depth to 85 feet above its low elevation of 3,555 <br />feet in spring 2005, boosting electricity production by an <br />estimated 12 percent this year. <br /> <br />May-08 <br /> <br />ca.~~S1NS/lS HSTCRY <br /> <br />~ <br /> <br /> <br />w <br />::: <br /><t <br />> 0 <br />x <br />w <br />o <br />Z <br />-.1 <br />>- <br />0:: <br />o <br />.2 <br /> <br />.3 <br /> <br />.4 <br />Jan-OO Jm-OO Jm-01 Jan-02 Jan-CC Jm-04 Jan-05 Jan-OO Jan-07 Jm-OO <br />M:N1H/\S'R <br /> <br />COLORADO RIVER NR DOTSERO, FLOW BY WATER YEAR <br /> <br />3,500,000 <br /> <br /> v ~ <br /> / <br /> / <br /> ~ ...-- <br /> / ~ <br /> / / <br /> ~ - <br /> f- -- ~ <br />""" <br /> <br />3,000,000 <br /> <br />Q) <br />" <br />LL <br />" Z5oo,OOO <br />" <br /><t <br />~ ZOOO.OOO <br />-' <br />LL <br />~ 1,500,000 <br />>= <br /><t <br />-' <br />~ 1, 000, 000 <br />::J <br />U <br /> <br />500,000 <br /> <br />o <br />Oct Nov Cec Jan Feb March April May June July Aug Sept <br /> <br />..-f>--WET (1984) <br /> <br />--+- CRY (2002) <br /> <br />-<r- AVG <br /> <br />""* 2CXJ8 <br /> <br />REPRESENTATIVE RESERVOIRS <br /> <br />90,000 <br /> <br /> <br />80,000 <br /> <br />70,000 <br /> <br />Q) <br />~ 80,000 <br />" <br />" <br />ro <br /><Ii 50,000 <br />OJ <br />ro <br />ell 40.000 <br />" <br />:g 30, CXX) <br /><f> <br />::J <br /> <br />20,000 <br /> <br />10,000 <br /> <br />o <br /> <br />Green rvbuntain <br /> <br />Rueci <br /> <br />Wlliarrs Fork <br /> <br />II Avg. 4130 Contents <br /> <br />114/30'08 Contents <br /> <br />7 <br />