WSP05479

• File Number: 8282.600.40
• Description: Colorado River Reservoir Operations
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Date: 6/1/1995
• Author: CWCB
• Title: Colorado River Reservoir Operations Status Reports - Part 2B, June and October
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Data

"

RECEIVED
Date I June 12, 1995 JUN 1 6 19~5

i'

From:

Brad Vickers, Tom Ryan Co:o,,,,,o Nator
Conservation Board
All Colorado River Annual operating Plan (AOP) Recipients

To:

Current status

Kay
i.nrlow (unreg)
(aore-reet)

Midnight
peroent Jun. 11
or normal Blevation

Reservoir storage
(aore-reet)

Fontenelle
Flaming Gorge
Blue Mesa
Powell
Navajo

83,400
158,700
194,200
1880,800
221,300

46
55
98
85
96

6,481.04
6,019.78
7,483.42
3,665.61
6,062.94

171,824
2,969,293
530,949
19,238,560
1,381,219

Expeoted Operation

J'OIlTDlBLLB.., While March of 1995 was much warmer than normal in
the Upper Green River basin, April and May were cool and wet.
Inflow into Fontenelle in April and May was only 53 percent and.45
percent of average respectively: With the current forecast calling
for an April though July volume that is 115 percent of normal,
inflows in June and July will be very high.

The elevation of the reservoir is currently 6474 feet. Releases
are at 2500 cfs. Releases of up to 6,000 cfs may be necessary from
Fontenelle this year to pass the volume of water forecasted to flow
into the reservoir in June and July. Inflows into Fontenelle will
likely exceed 10,000 cfs this year.

J'LAHIKG GORGB - 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). A special release for the
recovery of and research on endangered fish in the Green River
. below the dam commenced in late May. The operational scenario for
the special release this year is as follows. The goal is. to
achieve extended duration of flows in the 17, 000 to 18,000 cfs
level on the Green River at Jensen, Ut. Jensen is below the
confluence of the Yampa and Green Rivers. Snowpack in the Yampa
River Basin is high this spring, and flows on the.Vampa River alone
this spring could be as high. as 18,000 cfs. There will be a
concerted ertort by Reclamation and the FiSh and Wildlife service
to avoid significant flooding at Jensen. Significant flooding at
Jensen begins at about 18,500 cfs. If flows at Jensen are going to
go above 18,000 cfs, releases from Flaming Gorge will be reduced.
Releases will be reduced all the way down to.minimum levels of 800
cfs if necessary.. Hydrologic conditions on the Vampa River will be
monitored 7 days a.week in an effort to keep flows at Jensen in the
target zone of 17,000 to 18,000 cfs. The special releases will
last at least 5 weeks. Releases from Flaming Gorge during the
special release will not exceed powerplant capacity of 4500 cfs.