1005

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 1005
• Author: WBLA.
• Title: Curecanti Minimum Stream Flow Water Rights Study-Draft.
• USFW Year: 1986.
• USFW - Doc Type: \
• Copyright Material: NO

These targets were provided by the USBR. They were developed by

combining the criteria from the ASP program and the operational targets

for 1987. The targets are set to maintain sufficient carryover storage to

maintain the minimum power pool while at the same time minimizing spills.

Presumably, the differences between the ASP criteria and the 1987

operation plan (which are not large) can be explained by the fact that the

ASP model is old.

The above targets are based on average runoff conditions, and in

actual operation the targets for January through June may be violated in

response to above or below average snowpacks. If the snowpack is above

average, Blue Mesa storage contents may be dropped below targets so as to

increase hydropower generation during these months, with the expectation

that the extra runoff will still fill Blue Mesa by the end of June. If

the snowpack portends an exceptionally dry year, Blue Mesa contents may be

kept above targets during these months and hydropower production cut back

so as to increase the chances that the reservoir will fill up by the end

of June even with a low runoff.

The ASP model includes a feature which makes such adjustments based

on a synthesized runoff forecast. Such fine tuning introduces great

complexity into the model, without changing the important modelling

results and was beyond the scope of this study. The effect of adjusting

Blue Mesa storage targets based on snowpack conditions, however, can be

illustrated in an ex post analysis of any of the study scenarios. Such an

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