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e e e . Crystal Total Storage - 25,236AF Live Storage - 17,536 AF Power Outlet - 1,900 cfs River Outlet - 2,100 cfs Generating Capacity - 1 generator @ 28.0 MW The average annual inflow to Blue Mesa Reservoir is approximately 1,080,000 AF. The average annual yield of the Gunnison Basin at the Colorado River confluence is approximately 1,800,000 AF. Approximately 500,000 AF of water annually is consumptively used in the Gunnison Basin. The "Economic Justification Report on Curecanti Unit, Colorado River Storage Project" concluded that approximately 700,000 AF annually needs to pass through the Aspinall Unit Power Plants in order to justify the project, the balance being available for other consumptive uses. Annual Operatinl! Plan Process and Aspinall Operations The Colorado River Management Work Group meets 4 or 5 times a year to develop the Annual Operating Plan for Colorado River Reservoirs (AOP). The process for developing the AOP is to first develop operating plans for Flaming Gorge\Fontenelle, Aspinall\Taylor Park, and Navajo independently. These operations are then combined with the latest runoff forecast and the latest estimates of lower basin water use, Through an iterative process a preferred operating plan for Colorado River Reservoirs is developed, The AOP is adjusted on a monthly basis via the 24-month study process. Colorado is entitled to consumptively use 3.855 MAF under a hydrologic determination of 7.5 MAF available to the Upper Basin. However, the current hydrologic determination of water available to the Upper Basin is only 6.0 MAF of which. Colorado can then only consumptively use 3.079 MAF. Colorado's current consumptive use is approximately 2.3 MAF with the capability to consumptively use about 2,6 MAF. Aspinall operations are developed and coordinated through a series of three meetings throughout the year. Meetings are held in January, April and August of each year. During these meetings hydrologic and storage conditions as well as the needs and desires of the various water users are discussed. Considerations include the exchange of water between Taylor Park Reservoir and Blue Mesa Reservoir to benefit flows in Taylor and Upper Gunnison Rivers under a 1975 exchange agreement, projected inflows, flood control, water rights and uses, instream flows for endangered fish and other resources, recreation, hydropower and other factors. Aspinall operations have changed some over the years and may change further in the near future to incorporate the following considerations. 60,000 AF Subordination of Aspinall Unit Water Rights When the Aspinall Unit was constructed, it was also envisioned that several smaller reservoir projects would be constructed upstream for the benefit of water users in the Upper Gunnison Basin. Aspinall Unit water rights were to be subordinated to allow for these projects to be developed. 40,000 AF of depletion was to be utilized above Blue Mesa, 10,000 AF of depletion between Morrow Point and Blue Mesa, and I O,OOG AF of depletion between Crystal and Morrow Point. However, these smaller projects have not been built, but the Upper Gunnison water users still wanted to realize the benefits of this subordination. Thus, a subordination agreement was signed with the United States in July 2000. By subordinating the Aspinall Unit water rights to such water uses, the United States is agreeing that junior water users may continue to divert when a call is placed on the Gunnison River by the United States under the Aspinall rights. This 60,000 AF subordination has generally been considered a part of the 300,000 AF of marketable yield available to Colorado water users out of the Aspinall Unit. The Colorado Water Conservation District and the Upper Gunnison Water Conservancy District are responsible for reporting the uses under this subordination agreement and 'the Colorado River Decision Support System has a key role in this accounting process. 40