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<br /> <br />-'. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />WATER YEAR 1990 OPERATIONS SUMMARY AND RESERVOIR STATUS <br /> <br />Although the long-term hydrologic record of the Colorado River shows great <br />variability, there is a short-term persistence in the effect of current basin conditions on <br />the expected future stream flow. The runoff into Lake Powell during water year 1988 <br />was 70 percent of normal and during water 1989 was 53 percent of normaL In water <br />year 1990, runoff is expected to be approximately 45 percent of normal. <br /> <br />The low runoff years of 1988 through 1990 have caused a draw down in the Colorado <br />River system reservoirs. Expected October 1, 1990 system vacant space, is about 15 <br />million acre-feet (MAP). This vacant space is a result of the three lowest successive <br />years of the inflow record, during which the minimum deliveries of water out of <br />storage facilities have been maintained to meet obligations pursuant to "The Law of the <br />River." The following table lists the October 1, 1990 expected reservoir vacant space, <br />reservoir storage levels and the percent of capacity: <br /> <br /> Vacant Space Live Storage Percent of Live <br /> Reservoi r 11.000 AF) 11.000 AF) Capacity <br /> Fontenelle 75 270 78 <br /> Flaming Gorge 679 3,070 82 <br /> Blue Mesa 227 602 73 <br />. Navajo 354 1,342 79 <br />Lake Powell 8,760 16,242 65 <br /> Lake Mead 5,788 20,089 78 <br /> Lake Mohave 350 1,460 81 <br /> Lake Havasu 62 557 90 <br /> <br />Current soil moisture measurements throughout the basin are at levels that are <br />associated with extreme drought conditions. This moisture deficiency must be satistied <br />by subsequent precipitation before runoff can occur, thus increasing the probability of <br />below average runoff during water year 1991. <br /> <br />WATER YEAR 1991 AOP OPERATIONS ANALYSES <br /> <br /> <br />Besides complying with the requirements of the Operating Criteria, several specific <br />operating issues were addressed for the annual operating plan for water year 1991 as <br />the release schedules were developed for each of the reservoirs. Special consideration <br />was given to the dry condition of the basin and the vacant reservoir space that currently <br />exists. The operating issues addressed which are listed in no particular order of <br />priori ty are: <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />3 <br /> <br /> <br />- <br />