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

place at meetings of the "Flaming Gorge Working Group". A Working
Group meeting was held January 9 in Heber, Ut. The next Working
Group meeting is scheduled for April 10 at 11 am in Vernal, Ut.
For more information on the Working Group, contact Ed Vidmar at
801-379-1000.

ASPINALL - December unregulated inflow into Blue Mesa was 34,400

acre-feet
currently
presently

or about 132 percent of
at elevation 7491.84 feet.
at 575 cfs.

average. The reservoir is
Inflow into Blue Mesa are

Releases from Crystal Dam are about 1,800 cfs, leaving
approximately the same flow in the Black Canyon of the Gunnison.
Crystal Reservoir releases have increased recently up to power
plant capaci ty. These increased releases are due to the heavy
mountain snowpack that is accumulating above the reservoir system.
Crystal's releases are expected to remain steady at this new level
for the rest of January and into February. Additional releases may
be necessary as required by increases in the runoff forecast.

The current snowpack conditions in the Gunnison River Basin are
measuring about 190 percent of normal. The river runoff is
forecasted to be about 155 percent of normal for the April through
July period. It should be noted that these operational plans will
change over the course of the next few months with relationship to
the winter storm season.

The "Aspinall Unit Working Group" held its work group meeting on
January 13 and 14 in Grand Junction, Colorado. These meetings are
open forum discussions on the Aspinall Unit operations with many
interested groups participating. The next operation meeting will
be held on April 17, 1997 in Grand Junction. Anyone needing
further information about this meeting should contact Ed Warner in
the Grand Junction Area Office at [phone].

NAVAJO - December unregulated inflow into Navajo Reservoir was
about 23,000 acre-feet or approximately 91 percent of average. The
current reservoir inflow is about 260 cfs and the water surface
elevation is at 6046.91 feet.

Water year 1997 continues to build. As of January IS, the mountain
snowpack above Navajo Reservoir is at 172 percent of normal for the
San Juan Basin and 170 percent of normal for the Animas River
Basin.

CUrrently releases from Navajo continue at 252 cfs. This low flow