WSP04655

• File Number: 8282.600.40
• Description: Colorado River Annual Operations Reports
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Date: 1/1/1995
• Author: USDOI/BOR
• Title: Colorado River Reservoir Operation Status Reports Part 1
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Data

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RECEIVED
APR 1 3 1995

Date: April 11, 1995

From:

Brad Vickers, Tom Ryan Color.doW.ter
ConservatIon Board
All Colorado River Annual Operating Plan (AOP) Recipients

To:

Current status

Mar
inflow(unreg)
(acre-feet)

Midnight
Percent Apr. 9
of normal Blevation

Reservoir storage
(acre-feet)

Fontenelle
Flaming Gorge
Blue Mesa
Powell
Navajo

123,800
71 900
48,700
803,900
209,800

92
131
149
133
260

6,468.68
6,018.25
7,482.50
3,645.28
6,072.71

112,500
2,908,700
524,100
16,635,500
1,513,900

Bxpected Operation

I'ONTENBLLB - Releases from Fontenelle are currently at maxim.:J!'
powerplant capacity 1350 cfs. Releases were increased throughou"
the month of March in response to abnormally high inflows. Inflow
into Fontenelle in March was 71,900 acre-feet (162 percent of
normal). Because of this high March inflow, the target elevation
of 6463.5' (93,000 acre-feet of storage) was not reached. The
minimum level the reservoir reached waa 6467.5' (108,200 acre-feet)
Ol! March II, 1995. Releases will likely stay at maximum powerplant
c&pacity until the end of April, when additional releases (using
the bypass tubes) will begin. Under the current forecast (88
percent of normal), releases of up to 3,000 cfs will be necessary
thie Kay and June.

n.J,'IUNG GORGB - Snowpack in the Upper Green River Basin is now at
f'~ :...rcent of normal. Forecasted unregulated inflow into Flaming
Gm-ge is up significantly from last month. The forecasted inflow
is now is at 1070 thousand acre-feet (89 percent of normal).
March was warm and wet in the 'upper Green River Ba8in. Unregulated
inflows at Flaming Gorge (like Fontenelle) were much above average.

Releases from Flaming Gorge are now steady at 1000 cfs. Releases
will be increased to approximately 1600 cfs in the latter part of
April.

In water year 1995, Flaming Gorge is again being operated in
compliance with the Final Biological Opinion for the Operation of
Flaming Gorge Dam (FBOFGD). Details of the upcoming special spring
release will be formulated at the Flaming Gorge Working Group
meeting to be held in Vernal, ut. on April 12 and 13. For
information on the Flaming Gorge Working Group contact Ed Vidmar at
801-379-1000.

The minimum flow criteria of 800 cfs at Flaming Gorge will continue
to be strictly adhered to at all times during the year.