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

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A8PINALL - January inflow was 29,700 acre-feet or about 122 percent
of average. Currently the snow water equivalent is 109 percenc of
average. Because of this snowpack, the forecasted inflow into the
Aspinall unit for the April through July period is expected to be
860,000 acre-feet or 123 percent of average.

Currently inflow into Blue Mesa is about 400 cfs. Releases from
Crystal are about 1,000 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
were reduced to 1,000 cfs. Releases from crystal are expected to
remain near 1,000 cfs until April.

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

NAVAJO - January inflow into Navajo was only 13,000 acre-feet
approximately 61 percent of average. Precipitation in the San Juan
Basin has been very low the past few months as evidenced in the
snowpack being only 50 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 or 45
percent of average.

Currently releases from Navajo are 500 cfs. The planned low flow
release scheduled for January did take place on~ry 10 through 25.
The flow for this release was 250 cfs. with the low amount of
inflow forcasted for 1996, releases will probably remain near 500
cfs until spring.

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~o~, GLBB CAHYOH - The February 1 forecast for inflow into Lake Powell
. ,,,If ~Q jumped 1. 9 MAF from the January forecast, a result of the very wet
\ .''( V !Ix' January in the northern portion of the Upper Basin. With the
r;.,.~'<\ gJ'f? .y~' . current forecast, releases have been increased in order to equalize
\ ~ '~~~storage with Lake Mead at the end of the water year. With this
~ ~Q Q\ forecast, Lake Powell is expected to come within 8 feet of full
1~ ~ this next spring and monthly releases averages will range between
'r ~O~ 14,000 and 18,000 cfs. The range of daily fluctuations will depend
!;J" on the monthly volume. For February, releases are expected to vary
between 10,000 and 18,000 cfs.

In March a meeting will be held to discuss the March through April
operfation of Navajo. Anyone needing further information about
this meeting please contact Don Fazzan or Rege Leach at the Durango
Office at [phone].

The spring test of the beach habitat building flow will occur from.
March 22, 1996 through April 7, 1996. It will include 4 days at
both the start and the end of the test at a constant flow of 8,000
cfs to allow aerial mapping of the canyon. The highest releases of
about 45,000 cfs will occur from March 27, 1996 through April 2,
1996. Transitions up to this peak on March 26 will be at a rate of
4,000 cfs/hr; transitions down after April 2 will occur in stages,