WSP03308 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

r l' . . Area Manager DRAFT 6 Operational Flexibility ... ~ .'.~ "......T _'_ T"II.____ ___ ___-=_1...1__ ,j.L~.. :_l1n.........."'" A........ ^....01"..t;nnC' ;nrlnnlnO" Innerent m me operduun Oi J'l,jaVi:1Ju Ui:1lU we:; \o'aJJa.uJ.'\,;;) UlaL UJUu.,-,l.l\A.f UI.LI.U Vp'-'.L..........u..., ....-.----0 changes or errors associated with inflow forecasts, fluctuations in the Animas River, unusual or unexpected precipitation events, gage errors and discrepancies, and unexpected maintenance needs at Navajo Dam. Reclamation will take these variables into account when making operating plans to meet the Flow Recommendations. Water committed for future development (for example, completion of Navajo Indian Irrigation Project) but not currently used will offer flexibility in reservoir releases until such time as they are utilized. This may be a significant amount (up to 102, I 00 at) of water in many, but not all years. When possible, the release of this water will be incorporated into operations to augment the 250 cfs minimum release during the irrigation season; the goal will be to maintain irrigation season releases between 350 and 500 efs, while assuring a spring release and recommended minimum flows as described in the Flow Recommendations. Water forecasted to be available will be identified, quantified, and scheduled for release to the extent possible at the annual spring Navajo Reservoir Operations meeting. The SJRIP Biology Committee indicated that during the irrigation season (March through October) "it may not be effective or necessary to lower releases below 500 cfs until water use in the basin increases to the point that the water is needed to meet runoff period recommendations. This flexibility is extended only to the irrigation season as defined "..." and only until water development reaches the level that additional water is needed for Spring releases" (February 21,2002, memorandum from Biology Committee to Reclamation). As full water development occurs, minimum releases would be no lower than 250 cfs, but in the long term flexibility will diminish. In drought years, there may be no flexibility. Existing flexibility within the Flow Recommendations could occasionally allow minimum summer releases to be above 250 cfs. During the Navajo Reservoir Operations meetings and in discussions with the Service, an operation plan to meet the Flow Recommendations, authorized project purposes, and water development needs will be prepared. Unutilized or unaccounted for water, resulting from the aforementioned variables, would be identified and used to increase irrigation season releases or for other uses. Part of the SJRIP is to implement a process of "adaptive management," whereby the effects of dam operations on endangered fish and their habitat and downstream resources would be monitored and the results of that monitoring would form the basis for possible future tests or modifications of dam operations and/or the Flow Recommendations. Through this process there might be water identified in the system or operations that could be available at different times or for different uses. This adaptive management is already considered within the Flow Recommendations, in that flow recommendations may be adjusted as new information is gained through monitoring and research. Tn-annual Navajo Reservoir Operation meetings will also provide a forum for adaptive management and an opportunity for the public and SJRIP stakeholders to learn about monitoring results and to express their views about Reclamation's operation plans for the Navajo Unit. aDr~05