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.. .~.. "..,',:. ( \. \ .J - t' -.;. -;,~ , M'''13 i.... _-'~.,; v . . ( CHAPl'ER IV HATER SUPPLY )l'he first 100 years of full operation of both the Blue Nesa and Morrow Point features of the Curecanti unit were assumed to extend from 1974 through 2073. Primary river control for the Curecanti unit will be provided by the Blue Nesa Reservoir. The reservoir \lill have 915,000 acre-feet of capac- ity. or this total 715,000 acre-feet will be above the penstock intakes but only 515,000 acre-feet will be above the elevation of the rated head of the powerplant. In order to maximize the dependable capacity of the powerplant the gross rated head was set at 286 feet. The Horrow Point Reservoir will have a capacity of 117,000 acre-feet, of which only 15,000 acre-feet will be active. The reservoir will nonna.1.ly be used only for daily regulation. It was aspumed that the average operating head at the Horrow Point powerplant will be 400 feet which is 5 feet less than the maldmum head. In the simulated operat:ion studies for the Curecanti unit the Blue Mesa and r'lorrow Point Reservoirs were operated to accomplish jointly the following -water releases at the Horrow Peint Dam: 1. A minimum annual release of 756,000 acre-fee'c. 2. Suff'icient -water to permit diversions through the Gunnison tunnel in e.ny month that are equal to or greater than the ma:d.mt.tm recorded diversions for that month since completion of the Taylor Parl: Reservoir in 1937. J. Sufficient -water '~o permit peaking power generation of 40,000 kilowatts at the r~rrow Point poverplant for 217 hours a month. 4. Su:f:ricient water to provide a minimum :flow of 100 second-feet in the Gunnison River tbrOUgil the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Honument. lfuere practicable water released for one purpose was applied to other purposes also, but enough water was released to fully meet the four criteria cited. Uithout impairing the .>ater releases outlined above, additional releases were made in the operation study in late winter end early spring in order to make capacity available in the Blue Mesa Reservoir for storage of some of the anticipated flood flows. The object was to prevent uncontrolled spills sO far as possible during the high runoff season but yet to assure a full reservoir on July 31. Under actual operating conditions forecasts of reservoir inflow to July 31 will be made at the beginning of each month from January to Jull' to determine the amount of ,lBter that should be released durin,g ',he month to provide space for flood storage. In order to simulate sucll con,Utions in the operation studies, the recorded monthly flovs vere not used in the 30