WSP02079

• File Number: 8282.600.40
• Description: Colorado River Annual Operations Reports
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Date: 1/1/2001
• Author: USDOI/BOR
• Title: Colorado River Reservoir Operation Status Reports Part 1
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Data

Date: February 13, 2001

RECE!VlEiD
FEB 20 2001

Colorado Water ConserVdl'UI' _ ~_.:l

From:

Water Resource Group, Salt Lake City

To:

All Colorado River Annual Operating Plan (AOP) Recipients

Current Status

JanuaIY
inflow(unreg)
(Acre-Feet)

Percent
of normal

Midnight
FebIuaIY 12
Elevation

Reservoir
Storage
(AcIe-Feet)

Fontenelle
Flaming Gorge
Blue Mesa
Powell
Navajo

25,000
31. 000
21. 000
307,000
16,000

81
74
85
80
70

6,467.46
6,020.44
7,477.97
3,665.23
6,053.32

109,000
2,995,000
491. 000
19,187,000
1,265,000

Expected Operation

FONTENELLE - Releases continue to be steady at 900 cfs while inflows have averaged 390 cfs
over the past 7 days. Inflows for January were at expected levels. The forecasted inflow for
January was 26,000 acre-feet and Fontenelle actually received 24,790 acre-feet (81 % of average)
of inflow for the month. For February, the forecast is calling for 24,000 acre-feet.

The current water surface elevation is 6468.9 feet above sea level and dropping at about 3 inches
per day. Because inflows have been below normal this winter season, it is likely that releases
will need to be decreased to prevent the elevation from dropping below normal operating levels.
This will likely happen as soon as ice, on the Green River below Fontenelle, clears, which
usually occurs about the first of March. This year, Fontenelle will most likely reach its lowest
elevation of the year (about 6464 feet above sea level) by about March 1st.

The Fontenelle Water Supply forecast (inflow volume for April through July), updated for
February, is calling far 625,000 acre-feet (74% of average) of inflow. The current snowpack in
the Upper Green River Basin is 65% of normal for this time of year.

FLAMING GORGE - Releases continue to be steady at 1000 cfs while inflows have also
averaged 1000 cfs aver the past 7 days. The current water surface elevation is steady at 6020.36
feet above sea level and will likely begin to gradually rise over the next several months. Releases
will likely remain steady at 1000 cfs until the Spring Peak Release preliminarily scheduled to
begin this May.

Unre.gulated inflows for January were at expected levels. The forecasted unregulated inflow
volume for January was 30,000 acre-feet while Flaming Gorge actually received 31,150 acre-feet
(74% of average) of unregulated inflow. The forecast for February is calling for 38,000 acre-feet
of unregulated inflow.

The Flaming Gorge Water Supply forecast (April through July unregulated inflow volume),