WSP01196

• File Number: 8282.600.40
• Description: Colorado River Annual Operations Reports
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Date: 1/1/1997
• Author: USDOI/BOR
• Title: Colorado River Reservoir Operation Status Reports Part 1
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Data

Date: JANUARY 16, 1997

rrom: Water Resource Group, Salt Lake City

To: All Colorado River Annual Operating Plan (AOP) Recipients

g\., - ~rrent Status
~ 9_ Do m
~ 0 z:
~~ v 0 December Midnight
"'0 m
8:< - inflow (unreg) Percent January 15 Reservoir storage
[~ - < (acre-feet) of normal Elevation (acre- feet)
CD m
CD 0
......
rontenelle 37,400 US 6,481.48 175,100
rlaming Gorge 41,500 105 6,026.96 3,233,200
Blue Mesa 34,400 132 7,489.74 579,300
Powell 446,700 105 3,673.17 20,280,500
Navajo 23,000 91 6,046.91 1,189,700

Expected Operation

FLAMING GORGE - Release~ from Flaming Gorge Reservoir are now
steady at 1900 cfs ~ith no hour to hour fluctuations.

An icing study below Flaming Gorge has now begun. As part of this
study, releases shall be held steady (no hour to hour fluctuations)
for the first part of January. It is hoped that during this
period, that an ice cap will form on the Green River near Jensen,
Ut. The steady flow period is currently scheduled to be 12/29/96
to 1/18/97. Once an ice cap has formed. there will be a five day
period when fluctuating releases will be made. The tentative dates
for these fluctuating releases are 1/19 - 1/23. Releases on these
days shall fluctuate between 800 and 3000 cfs.

Water year 1997 is starting out to be very wet. Snowpack in the
Upper Green River Basins is currently 183 percent of normal and
snowpack in the Yampa River Basin is currently 172 percent of
normal (values as of 1/14/97).

The daily average release shall remain at 1900 cfs from now until
the completion of the icing study. After the icing study releases
will be increased. The amount releases will be increased will
depend upon the February inflow forecast issued the first week of
February. It is likely that releases will be increased to a level
between 2500 and 3000 cfs.

Open forum discussions on Flaming Gorge operations have been taking