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<br />Page 3 <br /> <br />On April 8 and 9, 1992, meetings were held to further discuss and coordinate <br />various study needs as well as to plan Gunnison River flows and Aspinall Unit <br />operations for May through August of 1992. Based on this year's forecast (as <br />of April 1, 1992) of snowpack/runoff, it is predicted that this water year <br />represents about 80 percent of normal. It is further anticipated that <br />approximately 600,000 acre-feet of unregulated inflow will come very close to <br />filling Blue Mesa Reservoir. Total forecasted inflow into the Aspinall Unit <br />(Blue Mesa, Horrow Point, and Crystal) is estimated at 725,000 acre-feet. <br /> <br />Based on current storage levels and forecasted inflow information, a consensus <br />was reached as of April 9, 1992, to operate the Aspinall Unit for the period <br />April - July, 1992 as follows: <br /> <br />April <br /> <br />May <br /> <br />300-500 ft3/s <br /> <br />450-600 ft3js <br />> 3000 ft3/s peak <br />:tl000 ft3/S <br /> <br />:f: 800 ft3/s <br /> <br />June <br /> <br />July <br /> <br />Note: These flows will be provided below the east portal of the gunnison <br />tunnel. During the period between May 15 and June 15, there will be an <br />instantaneous peak of 3000 ft3/s. <br /> <br />The proposed releases are representative of a low flow year and will provide <br />useful information as one of the relatively low flow tests. This flow <br />scenario is acceptable to the Service recognizing that gains in storage <br />capacity this year may be used in the following year such that one of the high <br />year target test flows can be met. <br /> <br />While the Service does not anticipate contracting with the Bureau of <br />Reclamation for delivery of Blue Mesa water for endangered fishes in 1992, we <br />are strongly considering that option (among others) in ensuing years to <br />guarantee that test flows stay in the Gunnison and Colorado rivers to and <br />through occupied habitats for listed fishes. <br /> <br />The Service looks forward to continuing to work with you and other interested <br />parties toward implementation of Aspinall releases that will further <br />contribute to our collective knowledge of endangered fishes flow/habitat needs <br />in the Gunnison and Colorado rivers while providing the necessary information <br />upon which to base our upcoming biological opinion for the Aspinall Unit. <br /> <br />I hope this memo amply clarifies our recommendations for the 5-year research <br />program (1992-1996) and, further, that these recommendations might be given <br />full consideration and be implemented as soon as POS~cl~t~ <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />pc: See attached list <br />