WSP02485

• File Number: 8141.700
• Description: Fryingpan-Arkansas Project - Annual Operating Plans and Reports
• State: CO
• Basin: Arkansas
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 11/1/1977
• Author: US DoI BoR
• Title: Annual Operating Plan Fryingpan-Arkansas Project Colorado 1977 -1978
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Annual Report

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lEport on q:,erations During Water Year 1977
Ruedi Reservoir

Ruedi lEservoir had 88,352 acre-feet of storage on September 30, 1976.
cperation of the reservoir through November 15 was in corrpliance with a
request by the Fish and Wildlife Service for enhancenent of brown trout
spawning. The flow was held nearly constant through this period 3ven
th:lugh the records show the outflow to vary betw=en 99 and 114 ft Is.
The variation was due to a small change in reservoir head and shift
corrections to the river gage bel~ Ruedi lEservoir. On November 15,
the outflow was adjusted to 135 ft Is so that the reservoir \\Duld be
drawn down to a point where refilling \\Duld be assured under reasonable
minimun inflow conditions while providing maximum flood control capabilities.
As the season progressed, the sno~ack appeared to be below normal so
the outflow was reduced to 103 ft Is on December 15, 1976. The snowpack
did n<Jt inprove in January 1977, so ~e outflow was further reduced to
71 ft Is on January 28, and to 41 ft Is on F~ruary 1, 1977. On February
16, the outflow was further reduced to 29 ft Is which was equivalent to
passing the inflow. On March 1, 1977, the reservoir rontent was 69,376
acre-feet.

The March 1 and April 1 snow survey data indicated the spring runoff
\\Duld be far below normal. Therefore, only the minimum release require-
I1EI1ts were maintained.

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On April 27, the Project received notice of a call on the Colorado
River. Ruedi Reservoir had to go off storage and pass the inflow and
for the first tiIre replace.rrent for water diverted at the collection
system had to be made from storage. The call ~t off again on May 2,
and the outflow was gradually reduced to 105 ft Is which was the minimum
required by the Operating Principles.

The May 1 forecast still indicated that the runoff \\Duld be below normal,
and that Ruedi Reservoir \\Duld not fill. For the rest of the water
year, the outflow f~ Ruedi Reservoir was maintained at the minimum
requirerrent of 110 ft Is or inflow, whichever was less, plus the release
of a small allOlmt of water' sold to the Colorado Highway Deparbrent and
the Colorado River Water Conservation District.

Ruedi Reservoir content on September 30, 1977, was 85,509 acre-feet.

Table 1 and Exhibit 4 show the operation of Ruedi Reservoir during
water year 1977.

South and North Side Collection System

The Fryingpan-Arkansas Project intx>rts began on April 28 and stopped on
June 16, 1977. Diversions \\ere continmus except for two days early in

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