WSP02717

• File Number: 822.600.10
• Description: Colorado River Annual Operating Plan - Annual Reports
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Date: 1/1/2001
• Author: USDOI/BOR
• Title: Annual Operating Plan
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Annual Report

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(1,600 cfs). Fontenelle Reservoir reached a peak elevation ofl,980.1 meters (6,496.3 feet), 3.0
meters (9.7 feet) from the crest of the spillway. This occurred on June 29,2000.

Because the mean annual inflow of 1,516 MCM (1.229 MAF) far exceeds Fontenelle's storage
capacity of 426 MCM (.345 MAF), significant power plant bypasses are expected under the most
probable and maximum probable inflow scenarios. Additionally, there is little chance that the
reservoir will not fill during water year 2001. In order to minimize spring high releases, and to
maximize downstream resources and power production, the reservoir will probably be drawn
down to minimum pool elevation, 1,970.0 meters (6,463 feet), which corresponds to a volume
of 115 MCM (0.093 MAF) of live storage.

Flaming Gorge Resen"oir

Inflow into Flaming Gorge was below average during water year 2000. April through July
unregulated inflow was 696l\1CM (0.564 MAF), or 47 percent ofnonnal. Powerplant capacity
releases of 130 ems (4600 cfs) were made for a period of2 weeks in late May and early June as
called for in the 1992 Final Biological Opinion on the Operation of Flaming Gorge. These
powerpJant capacity releases were successfully timed to meet peak flows on the Yampa River.
The Yampa River peaked at approximately 340 ems (12,000 cfs) on June 1, 2000. Peak flows
on the Green River near Jensen, an important reach of the Green River for endangered fish,
reached a peak flow of about 467 ems (16,500 cfs) on June 1,2000.

In September 2000, a final report entitled "Flow and Temperature Recommendations for
Endangered Fishes in the Green River DO\....nstream of Flaming Gorge Dam" (Flaming Gorge
Flow Recommendations) was published by the Upper Colorado River Recovery Program. The
report, prepared by a multi-disciplinary team, synthesizes research conducted on endangered fish
in the Green River under the Upper Colorado River Recovery Program and presents flow
recommendations for three reaches of the Green River. Reclamation has begun a National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process on the implementation of an operation at Flaming
Gorge Dam that meets these flow recommendations. A Notice of Intent to prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) was filed on June 6, 2000, in the Federal Register. The
draft EIS is scheduled to be published in August 2001. The completion of the final EIS and
Record of Decision (ROD) is scheduled to occur in 2002.

In water year 2001, Flaming Gorge will be operated in accordance \....ith the Biological Opinion
on the Operation of Flaming Gorge (BOFG), issued in November 1992. The BOFG calls for high
spring releases to occur each year, timed with the peak of the Yampa River, so as to mimic
historic Green River flows.

Blue ~1esa. .Morrow Point, and Crystal Reservoirs (Aspinall Unit)

In water year 2000, the April through July unregulated runoff into Blue Mesa Reservoir was 623
t-.1CM (0.505 MAF), or 72 percent of average. Water year 2000 unregulated inflow was
934 MCM (0.756 MAF), or 78 percent of average. Water year 2000 powerplant bypasses were

November 16, 2000

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