WSP00286

• File Number: 8282.600.40
• Description: Colorado River Annual Operating Reports
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Date: 7/1/1999
• Author: USDOI/BOR
• Title: Colorado River Reservoir Operation Status Reports Part 2
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Data

Date: September 10, 1999

RECEIVr:=D
SEP 1 6 1999

From:

Water Resource Group, Salt Lake City

To:

All Colorado River Annual Operating Plan (AOP) Recipients

CoIOl8do Water
Conservation Board

Current SUitus

August
inflow (unreg)
(Acre-Feet)

Percent
of normal

Midnight
September 9
Elevation

Reservoir
Storage
(Acre-Feet)

Fontenelle
Flaming Gorge
Blue Mesa
Powell
Navajo

93,000
118,000
113,000
1,169,000
230,000

104
110
170
192
591

6,502.03
6,032.73
7,515.41
3,693,33
6,079.56

314,000
3,456,000
794,000
23,267,000
1,618,000

Expected Operation

FONTENELLE - The elevation of Fontenelle Reservoir is currently about 6502 feet above sea level
and is steadily decreasing. Inflows have decreased to below 1200 cfs while the total reservoir
releases are currently set at 1200 cfs. Releases will remain at the current level throughout the fall and
wimer months, The water surface elevation will steadily decline until April of 2000,

FLAMING GORGE - Average daily releases from Flaming Gorge Reservoir are now 2100 cfs.
Releases will likely remain at or near 2100 cfs through the fall months.

Some hour to hour fluctuations in releases are now occurring. The amount of fluctuation is being
constrained by the 1992 Flaming Gorge Biological Opinion (FGBO) which states that flows on the
Green River near Jensen, Utah shall change by no more than plus or minus 12.5 percent of the daily
average flow for the day. Generally, the range (high to low) of fluctuations at Flaming Gorge is
about 1000 cfs on any given day.

A special release from Flaming Gorge will be made on September 20 and 21. On these two days
releases will be steady at 1600 cfs with no hour to hour fluctuations. This release is being made to
support the State of Utah's Division of Wildlife Resources annual tail water fishery assessment.

Inflow to Flaming Gorge was much above average during this year's runoff season. April through
July unregulated inflow was 1,706,000 acre-feet (143 percent of average), The last time April
through July inflow was this high was 1986. Inflow is now returning to near normal levels, however.
August unregulated inflow was 118,000 acre-feet, 110 percent of average,

Open forum discussions on Flaming Gorge operations have been taking place at meetings of the
"Flaming Gorge Working Group". The next Working Group meeting is scheduled for January 13 at