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Gunnison River /Aspinall Unit Temperature Analysis -Phase I <br />Page 10 <br />Since Blue Mesa Reservoir is the main storage facility for the Aspinall Unit, its water <br />surface elevation fluctuates dramatically throughout the year (Figure 6). Low elevations <br />typically occur in April/May and the highest water surface elevations typically occur in <br />mid summer through early fall. This pattern corresponds to the predominant long-term <br />use of the reservoir, which is providing irrigation water to users in Montrose, Delta, and <br />Grand Junction areas. The lowest reservoir elevation occurred in 1984 when the reservoir <br />dropped to 7,428 feet, 91 feet below the maximum surface elevation. <br />7550 <br /> Ma x W S El ev <br /> <br /> <br />7500 <br /> <br />7450 <br />d <br />LL <br />_ <br />J <br />N <br /> <br />d <br />' <br />0 7400 <br />a Min WS for Outl et <br />m <br />c <br />0 <br /> O tlt nt i <br /> <br />m <br />w <br />7350 <br /> <br />7300 <br /> Rese rvo ir Bottom <br />7250 <br />1 /1 /68 1 /1 /70 1 /2/72 1!2/74 1 /3/76 1 /3/78 1!4/80 1 /4182 1!5/84 1 /5/86 1 /6/88 1 /6/90 1 /7/92 1 /7/94 1 /8/96 1 /8198 1 /9100 1/9102 1 /10/0 <br />4 <br />Figure 6. Blue Mesa Water Surface Elevation. <br />4.1.2 Temperature Data <br />Blue Mesa strongly stratifies during the summer (Figure 7}. Profile data end before fall <br />turnover but it is presumed that turnover occurs in late October. <br />Hydrosphere Resource Consultants <br />