WSP04480

• File Number: 8282.600.40
• Description: Colorado River Annual Operating Reports
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Date: 7/1/1997
• Author: USDOI/BOR
• Title: Colorado River Reservoir Operation Status Reports Part 2
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Data

.'

These reductions in releases are being carried out so as to
comply with the Flaming Gorge Biological Opinion. This opinion
specifies that lower flows are needed in the Green River by mid
July to increase survival and growth of larval Colorado
Squawfish.

With regards to Upper Green hydrology: Inflows to Flaming Gorge
have dropped significantly in the past few days. While inflows
will likely remain relatively high during the rest of July (6000'
cfs dropping to 2000 cfs by the end of the month), peak inflows .
are now over. The reservoir is now 4.5 feet from full. The last
time the reservoir was this full was in 1986.

Open forum discussions on Flaming Gorge operations have been
taking place at meetings of the "Flaming Gorge Working Group".
The next Working Group meeting is scheduled for August 7 at 10 am
in Heber, Ut. For more information on the Working Group, contact
Ed Vidmar at 801-379-1000.

ASPINALL - June unregulated inflow into Blue Mesa was 468,000
acre-feet or about 167 percent of average. The annual snowmelt
runoff for the season is over with most rivers now rapidly
falling. Blue Mesa Reservoir reached its maximum water surface
elevation of about 7517.95 on July 1, 1997. Average daily.
inflows to the reservoir peaked on June 9, at 10,200 cfs..
Maximum elevation raises on the reservoir reached 2.0 feet per
day during the first part of June. Currently the inflow rate 'is.
about 2,600 cfs and reservoir releases are 3,400 cfs. Blue
Mesa's present elevation is 7516.4 feet with a storage content of
802,600 acre-feet.

Releases from Crystal Dam are currently at 4,000 cfs. Crystal
Reservoir started to spill on Monday, June 23 as Blue Mesa
Reservoir approached its normal capacity for safe storage. .'
Spills ended at Crystal on July 9. The Gunnison Diversion Tunnel
is presently taking about 1,000 cfs from the river which leaves
approximately 3,000 cfs in the Black Canyon of the Gunnison.
Reservoir releases from Crystal will start to decline on July 11,
as the river bypass releases at cut. This should continue
through July 25 when Crystal will be releasing about 2,000 cfs.

The next meeti 0 tel Unit Working Group" is
scheduled fo August 1997, i Gunnison, Colorado. These
meetings are sions on the Aspinall Unit
operations with many interested groups participating. Anyone
needing further information about this meeting should contact Ed
Warner in the Grand Junction Area Office at [phone].

NAVAJO - June unregulated inflow into Navajo Reservoir was about
403,000 acre-feet or approximately 163 percent of average. The
current reservoir inflow is about 1,800 cfs and the water surface
elevation is at 6068.87 feet which corresponds to a reservoir
content of about 1,457,000 acre-feet.

The spring runoff is essentially over in the San Juan Basin.
Inflows to Navajo Reservoir peaked on June 8, when the daily