9397

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 9397
• Author: Hydrosphere Resource Consultants.
• Title: Gunnison River / Aspinall Unit Temperature Study - Phase I.
• USFW Year: 2002.
• USFW - Doc Type: 107,
• Copyright Material: NO

Gunnison River / Aspinall Unit Temperature Analysis -Phase I
. Page 11
Temperature Profile
0
0.0
10.0
20.0
30.0
_ 40.0
E
~ 50.0
a
m
~ 60.0
70.0
80.0
90.0
100.0
Temp C
Figure 7. Temperature Profiles for Blue Mesa Reservoir (Sapinero Basin),
2000.
An analysis of temperature profile data for each of the three basins indicates that there is
very little longitudinal variation in temperature. Bottom temperatures in the deepest part
of the reservoir (Sapinero Basin) are very cold and stay relatively constant throughout the
summer (Figure 7).
Over 50% of the tributary inflow comes from the Gunnison River (NPS, 1996), which in
1996 was the coldest of the four major tributaries (Cebolla, Soap, and Lake Fork)
(Johnson, et al., 1997).
Numerous profiles were provided for the years 1997 - 2000 for Blue Mesa Reservoir. Of
these years, 1997 runoff was well above average and 2000 runoff was well below
average. Profiles for 1997 are displayed in Figure 8 and profiles for 2000 are shown in
Figure 7. Estimated release temperatures during these two years are shown in Figure 9.
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