WSP03527

• File Number: 822.600.10
• Description: Colorado River Annual Operating Plan - Annual Reports
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Date: 1/1/2003
• Author: USDOI/BOR
• Title: Annual Operating Plan
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Annual Report

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6.496.7 feet (1.980 mCfcrs). on August 5. 2002 which was 9.3 feet (2.8 meters) below the crest of the
spillway.

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Because the most probable inflow of 0.891 maf(1.100 mcm) for water year 2003 far exceeds
Fomenelle's storage capacity of 0.345 Olaf (426 mcm). the most probable and maximum probable
inflow scenarios require releases during the spring thai exceed the capacity of the power plant. It is
unlikely that Fontenclle reseryoir will nOl fill during water year .2003. In order to minimize high
spring releases. and to maximize downstream resources and power production. the reservoir will
mas! likely be drawn down to the minimum pool eJc\"alion of 6A63 feet above sea le\"el (1.970.0
meters) by early Apri120OJ. which corresponds to a volume of 0.093 maf( 115 mcm)oflivc storage.

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Flaming Gorge Reservoir

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For the third year in a ro\\'. inflows into Flaming Gorge were well belO\\" nonnal during watcr year
2002. The annual unregulated inflow volume for water year 2002 was 0.529 maf(653 mcm), or 31
pcrcent of normal. The annual unregulated inflow was only 56 percent of normal in water year 2000
and only 43 percent of nomlal in water year 2001. Flaming Gorge Reservoir did not fill in water
year 2002 and inflow was so low that the reservoir continued to decrease in water surface elevation
during the spring and early summer. The water surface elevation of Flaming Gorge Reservoir on
September 30.2002 was 6.011.0 feet above sea level (1.832.2 meters). 29.0 feet from full pool.

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A spring peak release of 4.000 cfs (113 cms) was made for a period of I week between May 21,2002
and ~lay 27.2002 as called for in the 1992 Final Biological Opinion on the Operation of Flaming
Gorge Dam. These releases were made through the power plant and \vere successfully timed to meet
peak flows on the Yampa River. The Yampa River peaked at approximately 3.700 cfs (105 cms) on
May 22. 2002. Flows on the Green River near Jensen. an important segment of the Green River for
endangered fish, peaked at about 7.700 cfs (218 cms) on :-'lay 23.2002.

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In September 2000. a final report titled "Flow and Temperature Recommendations for Endangered
Fishes in the Green River Downstream of Flaming Gorge Dam" (Flaming Gorge FIOlA'
Recommendations) was published by the Upper Colorado River Recovery Program. The report
compiled and summarized research conducted on endangered fish in the Green River under the
Uppcr Colorado River Recovery Program and prcsents flow recommendations for three se!,'lllents of
the Green Rivcr. Reclamation is currently conducting a National Environmental Policy Act (NEP A)
process to determine the bcst operational altemativc for Flaming Gorge Dam to meet thesc flow
recommendations. Reclamation has developed a river simulation model (using the Rivcr\Vare
modeling system). which simulates the operation of Flaming Gorge Dam under the Flaming Gorge
Flow Recommendations. and under the 1992 Biological Opinion on the Operation of Flaming Gorge
(BOFG). These modeled altematives facilitate the quantification of impacts to the resources at
Flaming Gorge Dam and to resources in the Green Ri\'er below the dam associated with the proposed
implementation of the Flaming Gorge Flow Recommendations. A draft Environmental Impact
Statement (DEIS) willlike1y be published in late 2002 while completion of the final EIS and Record
of Decision (ROD) is scheduled to occur in 2003.

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December 13. 2002

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