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<br /> <br />>. <br /> <br />"f. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br /> <br />Flaming Gorge Reservoir <br /> <br />As a result of several extremely dry years in the Green River Basin, Flaming Gorge <br />Reservoir has been drawn down about 20 feet from full. Releases during most of last <br />year were restricted to minimum flows of 800 ffls, which are projected to continue <br />through much of water year 1991. A limited number of specific releases for research <br />and data collection for studies concerning endangered fish survival requirements were <br />provided in 1990. Colorado Squawfish young-of-the-year were found in the mainstem <br />of the Green River in early July 1990 and restrictions on releases from Flaming Gorge <br />Reservoir were implemented in order to better provide habitat for the young Colorado <br />Squawfish. During water year 1991, these same release restrictions will be maintained. <br />The release restrictions, as recommended by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, are as <br />follows: <br />- Total monthly releases limited to 100,000 AF. <br />- Maximum release limited to 2,600 fe/s with the exception that up to 4,000 fi'/s can be <br />released for up to 2 hours per day. <br />- Minimum release limited to 800 fe/so <br />With this operation plan and the most probable inflow assumption the reservoir will <br />refill in the spring of 1992. <br /> <br />Blue Mesa, Morrow Point, and Crystal Reservoirs (Aspinal Unit) <br /> <br />The Gunnison River Basin has also experienced below average runoff which has <br />substantially reduced reservoir storage. In 1988, Blue Mesa reservoir was 40 feet from <br />full and in 1989 the reservoir had recovered to within 16 feet of full. In 1990. even <br />with limited releases from the Aspinal Unit to meet the delivery requirements of the <br />Uncompahgre Valley Project and to provide a minimum 300 ft3/s in the Gunnison River <br />through the Gunnison National Monument, the reservoir level has declined to 25 feet <br />from full. These minimal releases are projected to continue until the spring of 1991, <br />when, under most probable inflow conditions, Blue Mesa Reservoir will retill and the <br />downstream releases will increase. To protect the blue ribbon trout tishery in the Black <br />Canyon, releases are carefully planned to minimize large monthly changes in now <br />below the Gunnison Tunnel Diversion. The forecasted runoff during the spring of 1991 <br />will be constantly monitored to achieve this objective. <br /> <br />7 <br /> <br />- <br />