Annual Operating Plan For Colorado River Reservoirs 2004

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I January 7, 2004 12 the peak of the Yampa River, so as to more closely mimic historic Green River flows. Releases from Flaming Gorge Dam, under the most probable scenario, in the winter and early spring months of 2004 will be relatively low (approximately 800 cfs) in order to conserve reservoir storage. ' Blue Mesa, Morrow Point, and Crystal Reservoirs (Aspinall Unit) ' Drought conditions prevailed again in the Gunnison River Basin during water year 2003. The April through July unregulated runoff into Blue Mesa Reservoir in 2003 was only 0.429 maf (529 mcm), or 60 percent of average. Water year 2003 unregulated inflow was 0.632 maf (780 mcm), or 63 percent of average. Even though this marks the fourth consecutive year of drought, water year 2003 had considerably more runoff volume than the record low water year set in 2002. The net effect of the 2003 runoff and the water conservation practices in the basin during the year resulted in Blue Mesa Reservoir increasing in storage during the water year 2003 by 0.112 maf (138 mcm). Storage in Blue Mesa Reservoir on September 30, 2003, was 0.387 maf (477 mcm), or 47 percent of ' capacity. Releases from Aspinall Unit reservoirs in 2003 were at lower than normal levels, in part, to conserve ' reservoir storage. Releases from the Aspinall Unit were reduced on October 15, 2002, to provide for a flow of 250 cfs (7.1 ems) in the Gunnison River through the Black Canyon. This flow was maintained until early May 2003 at which time flows in the Black Canyon were increased to 300 cfs ' (8.5 cros). Water year 2003 powerplant bypasses were approximately 0.084 maf (104 mcm) at Crystal Dam, the result of annual system maintenance and because the powerplant was shut down from November 2002 through March 2003. This winter shutdown was made because the low release ' of 250 cfs (7.1 cros) was below the minimum powerplant threshold at Crystal Dam. During the last week of March 2003, releases at Crystal Dam were increased as irrigation deliveries began through the Gunnison Tunnel. This allowed the Crystal powerplant to come back on line. ' On August 16, 1995, Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) No. 95- 07- 40 -Rl760 was signed by the Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), and Colorado Water Conservation Board. The purpose of the MOA was to provide water to the Redlands Fish Ladder and assure at least 300 cfs (8.5 cros) of flow in the 2 -mile reach of the Gunnison River between the Redlands Fish Ladder and the confluence of the Gunnison and Colorado Rivers (2 -mile reach). This MOA was extended for an additional five years on June 30, 2000. A key provision of the MOA requires that the parties adopt a plan to share water shortages in dry years, when total storage at Blue Mesa Reservoir is projected to drop below 0.4 maf (493 mcm) by the end of the calendar year. ' Accordingly, a plan to share physical water shortages due to the extremely dry hydrological conditions occurring in the Gunnison River Basin was developed for water year 2002 and implemented among the MOA parties, along with another separate contract between the Colorado River Water Conservation District and Redlands Water and Power Company to offset hydropower losses. As was formally agreed by all parties, operations undertaken during calendar years 2002 and 2003, to lessen the impacts of the severe drought conditions to a reasonable extent, did not establish or set any precedent that such operations will continue or occur again in the future. The runoff for 2003 was sufficient enough that it was not necessary to operate under shared shortage criteria. C