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<br />J <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br /> <br />1996 OPERATIONS SUMMARY AND RESERVOm STATUS <br /> <br />Water year 1996 commenced with above normal hydrologic conditions in the basin. Basin <br />wide precipitation during 1996 was above average and translated into an above average <br />snowpack. At the beginning of the runoff season the basin wide snowpack was about <br />115 percent of average, varying between 149 percent of normal in the Upper Colorado River <br />basin and 65 percent of normal in the San Juan Basin. However, extremely dry conditions in <br />the late spring reduced the runoff to near normal levels. Annual runoffin the Green River <br />basin was 103 percent of average, the Gunnison basin was 117 percent of average, the San <br />Juan basin was 42 percent of average and Lake PoweD was 95 percent of average. With this <br />runoff during 1996 there were some reports of local flooding, but most damage was minimal.. <br /> <br />Unregulated inflow into Lake PoweD was 13,541 MCM (10.978 MAP) in water year 1996, <br />approximately 95 percent of average. This inflow resulted in the loss of approximately <br />1,120 MCM (.908 MAP) of storage in Lake PoweD. Approximately 657 MCM (.533 MAF) <br />of storage was lost in upstream reservoirs, approximately 998 MCM (.809 MAP) of storage <br />was gained in Lower Basin reservoirs, and the total Colorado storage system lost <br />approximately 778 MCM (.631 MAP) during water year 1996. It is now estimated that with <br />average inflow during 1997, the system will be relatively full. During 1996, all deliveries of <br />water to meet obligations pursuant to "The Law of the River" were maintained. On July 24, <br />1996, the Regional Directors of the Upper and Lower Colorado regions issued a revised <br />detennination for 1996 Colorado River water use, acting under authority from the Secretary <br />of the Interior. This determination changed the finding of 1996 being a "normal" year to that <br />of "surplus" as defined in the 1970 Operating Criteria. <br /> <br />Tables l(a) and 1(b) list the expected October 1, 1996 reservoir vacant space, live storage, <br />water elevation, percent of capacity, change in storage, and change in elevation during water <br />year 1996. <br /> <br />3 <br />