FLOOD04607

• County: Gunnison
• Community: Upper Gunnison
• Basin: Gunnison
• Title: Final Report Appendices Upper Gunnison-Uncompahgre Basin Phase I Feasibility Study
• Date: 5/1/1989
• Floodplain - Doc Type: Project

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units and participating projects is operated jointly by the Department of
Energy's Western Area Power Administration (WAPA) and USBR's Power
Operations Center in Montrose.

Flows of the Gunnison River are largely controlled by Blue Mesa
Reservoir, the largest and uppermost of the three Aspinall Unit
reservoirs. Water released through the Blue Mesa Powerplant receives
short-term re-regu1ation by Morrow Point Reservoir and by Crystal
Reservoir located immediately downstream. Water releases from Morrow
Point are primarily for peaking power while releases through the Crystal
Power Plant are uniform to satisfy downstream water rights and maintain a
flow of 300 cfs through the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National
Monument as long as the Blue Mesa Reservoir level is above minimum power
pool.

The three Aspinall Unit power plants, with a total installed
capacity of 208,000 KW, produce an average of 775 million KWh of electric
energy annually. -SwHchyards at the power plants deliver the power into
the WAPA transmission system which is interconnected with the other,
power-producing plants of the CRSP and participating projects, as well as
with other Federal and private power systems. The electric energy is for
sa 1 e to preference customers and others throughout the storage project
market area.

In addition to power generation, the Aspinall Unit regulates the
flow of the Gunnison River, thus providing benefits for flood control,
minimum streamflow for fisheries, irri~ation, and other uses.

Storage in the Aspinall Unit
commi tments to the lower bas in,
participating projects and others for
in the Upper Gunnison sub-basin.

may be used to meet Colorado's
thus permitting diversions by
irrigation, M&I, and other purposes

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rJ CJOD3631