WSP03055

• File Number: 8282.600.40
• Description: Colorado River Annual Operations Reports
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Date: 1/1/2002
• Author: USDOI/BOR
• Title: Colorado River Reservoir Operation Status Reports
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Data

ReceIVED
JAN 1 !l2002

Date: January 9, 2002

Cofomdo Wa~r ConselVBtion Saara

From:

Water Resource Group. Salt Lake City

To:

All Colorado River Annual Operating Plan (AOP) Recipients

Current Status

December
inflow (unreg)
(Acre.Feet)

Percent
of normal

Midnight
January 8
Elevation

Reservoir
Storage
(Acre-Feet)

Fontenelle
Flaming Gorge
Blue Mesa
Powe 11
Navajo

23,000
19,000
23,000
280,000
13,400

70
48
89
65
53

6,476.04
6,016.89
7,484.80
3,655.29
6,058.48

146,000
2,868,000
541,000
17,883,000
1, 324,000

Expected Operation

FONTENELLE - The fll'St Water Supply forecast for Fontenelle for water year 2002 is calling
for 620,000 acre-feet of inflow (73 % of normal) during the April through July period. Based on
this forecast, Fontenelle will likely be very nearly full by mid-August. Releases will continue to
be about 425 cfs until mid-March when ice conditions subside on the Green River below
Fontenelle Dam. The water surface elevation of Fontenelle will likely reach it's lowest level by
about April 1st.

Open forum discussions on Fontenelle operations will be taking place at meetings of the
"Fontenelle Reservoir Working Group". Working Group meetings are scheduled for April each
year. For more information about the Working Group Meeting. contact Ed Vidmar at
801-379-1182.

FLAMING GORGE - The fll'St Water Supply Forecast for water year 2002 has been issued for
Aaming Gorge and the current outlook is for yet another below normal runoff season. The April
through July unregulated inflow forecast is calling for 820,000 acre-feet (69% of normal) due. in
large part, to below normal precipitation and depleted'soil moistures in the Upper Green River
Basin. Inflows so far this water year have consistently been below normal. For the period
October through December, inflows were 38% of normal. Inflows are predicted to remain at this
level during January, February and March when inflows are forecasted to be at 40% of nonna!.

Due to the bleak water supply conditions in the Upper Green River Basin, releases will likely
remain at 800 cfs until May when a power plant capacity spring release will be scheduled to
enhance the recovery of the endangered fish in the Green River below Flaming Gorge Dam. The
duration of the spring release will be scheduled to satisfy the requirements of the Flaming Gorge
Biological Opinion. Releases during the swnmer months will likely be in the range from 1000
cfs to 1400 cfs depending on how conditions change during the next several months.