WSP05551

• File Number: 822.600.10
• Description: Colorado River Annual Operating Plan - Annual Reports
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Date: 1/1/2002
• Author: USDOI/BOR
• Title: Annual Operating Plan
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Annual Report

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The minimum release objectives of the Aspinall Unit are to meet the delivery requirements of the
Uncompahgre Valley Project, to keep a minimum onoo cfs (8.5 ems) flov.-ing through the Black
Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, and to maintain a minimum flow of300 cfs (8.5 ems)
below the Redlands Diversion Dam (located on the Gunnison River, 2.3 miles [3.7 kilometers]
upstream of the confluence \l.-ith the Colorado River) during the summer months, Under the most
probable and maximum probable inflow scenarios, Blue Mesa is expected to fill in the summer
of2002 and flows through the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park are expected to be
above the minimum release objective during the summer months, The forecasted runoff for the
spring of2oo2 will be closely monitored to achieve these objectives, To protect both the blue
ribbon trout fishery in the Black Canyon and recreation potential, releases during 2002 will be
planned to minimize large fluctuations in the daily and monthly flows in the Gunnison River below
the Uncompahgre Tunnel Diversion.

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Na\-'ajo Resen'oir

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Runoffin the San Juan River basin in water year 2001 was above average, This reversed a two
year dry trend. April through July unregulated inflow to Navajo Reservoir in water year 1999 and
2000 was 81 and 44 percent of average, respectively. The April through July unregulated inflow
into Navajo Reservoir in water year 2001 was 0.826 MAF (1,019 MCM), or 107 percent of
average. Water year 2001 unregulated inflow was l.04l\.1AF (1.280 MCM) or 96 percent of
average. Navajo Reservoir reached a peak elevation in 2001 of6.069,8 feet (1,850.0 meters).
15,2 feel (46 melers) from full on July 2, 2001.

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The final report titled "Flow Recommendations for the San Juan River." which outlines flow
recommendations for the San Juan River below Navajo Dam, was completed by the Biology
Committee of the San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program (SJRlP) in May 1999.
The report synthesizes research conducted on endangered fish in the San Juan River over a 7-
year period, The purpose of the report is to provide flow recommendations for the San Juan
River that promote the recovery ofthe endangered Colorado pikeminnow and razorback sucker,
maintain important habitat for these two species, as well as the other native species, and provide
information for the evaluation of continued water development potential in the basin. It is
anticipated that implementation of the flow recommendations, or reasonable alternative to it,
will allow for a non-jeopardy biological opinion to be issued by the Service for the operations of
Navajo Dam.

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Reclamation has begun a National Em,;ronmental Policy Act (NEP A) process on the
implementation of an operation at Navajo Dam that meets these flow recommendations or a
reasonable alternative to them. A Notice orIntent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS) was filed on October I, 1999, in the Federal Register. The draft EIS is scheduled to be
published in October 2001. The completion of the final EIS and Record of Decision is scheduled
to occur in 2002.

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During the spring, a large release of up to 5,000 cfs (142 cms) was made during May and June
to coincide \\ith the peak flows of the Animas River as prescribed by the flow recommendations.

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October 15, 200 1

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