WSP02889

• File Number: 8282.600.40
• Description: Colorado River Annual Operations Reports
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Date: 1/1/1996
• Author: USDOI/BOR
• Title: Colorado River Reservoir Operation Status Reports Part 1
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Data

ASPINALL - Dectber inflow was 31,000 acr.eet or about 120
percent of average. Currently the snow water equivalent is only 6~
percent of averaae, as precipitat10n over the past few months has
been well below average. Because of the low snowpack, the
forecasted inflow irtn the ASDinall Unit for the April through July
period is eXDeGted to be onlv 560.000 acre-feet or 80 percent of
average.

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Currently inflow into Blue Mesa is about 400 cfs. Releases from
Crystal are about 1,800 cfs. Because the Gunnison Tunnel is not
diverting water this time of year, all of the releases from Crystal
are in the Gunnison River. The storage target at Blue Mesa has now
been met (January 3, 1996). Because of this, releases from Crystal
will be reduced at a rate of 200 cfs per day, until a release of
1,000 cfs is achieved. This reduction in releases will begin
January 8, 1996. Releases from Crystal are expected to remain near
1,000 cfs for the remainder of January.

On January 18, 1996 a public meeting on the operation of the
Aspinall Unit will be held at the WAPA/USBR office building in
Montrose Colorado. The operation plan for January through April
will be set at this meeting. Anyone needing further information
about this meeting, please contact Ed Warner in the Grand Junction
Area Office at [phone].

JlAVAJO - December inflow into Navajo was only 13,000 acre-feet
approximately 52 percent of average. Precipitation in the San Juan
Basin has been very low the past few months as evidenced in the
snowpack being only 28 percent of average. This has affected the
expected inflow into Navajo for the April through July runoff
period. The runoff is expected to be only 350,000 acre-feet of 45
percent of average.

Currently releases from Navajo are 500 cfs. The planned low flow
release scheduled for January is on schedule to take place. with
the low amount of inflow forcasted for 1996, releases will probably
remain near 500 cfs until spring.

In Februar~ a meeting will be held to discuss the operation of
~av!lo. T e operat10n plan for Navajo for the Karch through April
wil be set at this meeting. Anyone needing further information
about this meeting please contact Don Fazzan or Rege Leach at the
Durango Office at [phone].

GLBB CAHYOR - The January 1 forecast for inflow into Lake Powell
dropped markedly Jrom previous estimates of average inflow, a
result of the very dry fall in the southern portion of the Upper
Basin. Pall releases h~VQ aVAraaed aboll~ '~.nnn ~~~ in or~~r ~~
eaualize stor"CJ~ ka+-Wc:lot:lon Lakes PowQll ;llinn MA::l\O, as agreed to in the
1996 Annual operating Plan (AOP). With the current forecast,
releases will be reduced in order to minimize the risk of extremely
low summer releases. With this forecast, Lake Powell is expected
to come within 14 feet of full this next spring and monthly release
averages will range between 12,500 and 16,250 cfs. The range of
daily fluctuations will depend on the monthly volume. For January,
releases are expected to vary between 11,500 and 19,500 cfs.

The spring test of the beach habitat building flow will occur from