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<br />WAYNE N. ASPINALL UNIT
<br />BLUE MESA, MORROW POINT, AND
<br />CRYSTAL RESERVOIRS
<br />(GUNNISON RIVER)
<br />
<br />
<br />Water Year 1990
<br />
<br />The Wayne N. Aspinall Unit, is comprised of Blue Mesa,
<br />Morrow Point. and Crystal Reservoirs. Blue Mesa provides
<br />nearly all of the long-term storage for all three powerplants.
<br />Morrow Point provides peaking power, and thus has highly
<br />variable releases. The primary function of Crystal Reservoir
<br />is to regulate: the variable Morrow Point releases. Li-.e storage
<br />capacities for Morrow Point and Crystal Reservoirs arc
<br />117,000 and 17,500 acre-feet respecti",ly.
<br />
<br />The Gunnison Rivet Basin has experienced below 3Vl:rage
<br />runoff for water years 1988, 1989 and 1990. AI the start of
<br />water year 1989, li", storage at Blue Mesa Reser",ir was
<br />449,000 acre-feet (54 percent of capacity). Blue Mesa
<br />Reser",ir began water year 1990 at elevation 7490.4 feet with
<br />a "'" storage of 585,000 acre-feel (71 percenl of capacity). At
<br />the end of the water year, the elevation was 7494.7 with a li~
<br />storage of 618,000 acre-feet (75 percent of capacity). This
<br />recovery in storage. during a dry period. has been
<br />accomplished by limiting releases from Crystal Reser",ir 10
<br />provide minimum streamflo'WS of 300 cubic fect per second
<br />through the Black Can}'ln of the Gunnison Ri"'r.
<br />
<br />April through Iuly unregulated runoff into Blue Mesa
<br />Reservoir was 3M,COO acre.feet, or 50 percent of average. The
<br />
<br />I',CTUI',L CRYSTAL RELEI',SES 1990
<br />
<br />THOUSAND ACAE-FEET
<br />'00
<br />
<br /> / .....,
<br />\
<br />\ /
<br />/"
<br />
<br />150
<br />
<br />100
<br />
<br />'0
<br />
<br />o
<br />ONDJFMAMJJAS
<br />
<br />total unregulated inflow for water year 1990 inflow was
<br />571,000 acre-feet, or 53 percent of average. The peak
<br />regulated inflow into Blue Mesa was 4,500 cubic feet per
<br />second on June 1191990. Releases from Blue Mesa Reservoir
<br />totaled 527,000 acre-feet for the Vl3ter year. All water released
<br />passed through the powerplant.
<br />
<br />Morrow Point Reservoir \Vas operated between elevations
<br />7152 and 7100 feet. Side inflow into Morrow Point Reservoir
<br />for 'Water year 1990 was 43,000 8cre~feet, or 61 percent of
<br />average. A total of 562,000 acre-feet was released during the.
<br />water year, with all but 5,000 acre-feet passing though the
<br />powerplant.
<br />
<br />Crystal Reservoir was operated to meet minimum
<br />dO'-\l11stream commitments during water year 1990. Side inflow
<br />to Cr)'Stal was 92.000 acre-feet, which 'Was 77 percent of
<br />average. A total of 617.<XX> acre-feel was released during the
<br />water year, of which only 42,000 acre-feet bypassed the
<br />powerplant. During water year 1990 the maximum daily
<br />release from Crystal Reservoir was 1,450 cubic feet per
<br />second.
<br />
<br />BLUE MESA RESERVOIR
<br />
<br />Reservoir
<br />
<br />Acre-feet
<br />
<br />Elevation. feel
<br />
<br />Maximum Storage
<br />Rated Head
<br />Minimum Power
<br />Surface Area, full
<br />Reser",ir Length, full
<br />
<br />829,523
<br />249,395
<br />81,070
<br />
<br />7519
<br />7438
<br />7393
<br />9,180 Acres
<br />24 Miles
<br />
<br />Powerplants (Blue Mesa, Morrow Point, & Crystal)
<br />
<br />Number of Units
<br />Total Capacity
<br />
<br />5
<br />208,000 KW
<br />
<br />9
<br />
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