WSP06066

• File Number: 8282.600.40
• Description: Colorado River Annual Operations Reports
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Date: 1/1/2000
• Author: USDOI/BOR
• Title: Colorado River Reservoir Operation Status Reports Part 1
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Data

Green River near Jensen, Utah shall change by no more than plus or minus 12.5 percent of the daily
average flow for the day. Generally, the range (high to low) of fluctuations at Flaming Gorge has
been about 1000 cfs on any given day.

Inflow to Flaming Gorge was much above average during the 1999 runoff season. April through
July unregulated inflow was 1,706,000 acre-feet (143 percent of average). The last time April
through July inflow was this high was 1986. August unregulated inflow was 118,000 acre-feet, 110
percent of average. Unregulated inflow in September was 84,600 acre-feet (127 percent of average).

Open forum discussions on Flaming Gorge operations have been taking place at meetings of the
"Flaming Gorge Working Group". The next Working Group meeting is scheduled for January 13 at
II am in Heber. Ut. For more information on the Working Group, contact Ed Vidmar at
801-379-1000.

ASPINALL - December unregulated inflow into Blue Mesa was 26,000 acre-feet or 100 percent of
average. Precipitation in the Gunnison basin was 60 percent of average for December. Currently the
inflow rate into Blue Mesa Reservoir is averaging about 450 cfs and reservoir releases are averaging
about 900 cfs. Blue Mesa's current elevation is 7489.48 feet which corresponds to a storage content
of about 577,000 acre-feet.

Releases from Crystal Dam are currently 800 cfs. The Gunnison Diversion Tunnel was shut down
on Monday, November I, for the winter season, resulting in the river receiving the full reservoir
release of 800 cfs through the Black Canyon of the Gunnison. The mountain snow pack for the
Gunnison River Basin above Crystal is currently al 45 percent of average and the precipilation for
the month was 60 percenl of normal. Recently the releases from Crystal Dam were reduced from
1,200 cfs down to 800 cfs in response to the latesl April through July runoff forecast. The forecast
was for only 68 percent of normal Spring runoff. Crystal releases will remain at or near this level for
the next several months.

The next meeting of the "Aspinall Unit Working Group" is scheduled for January 31,2000, in
Montrose, Colorado. At this meeting, review of last summer and fall operations, and plans for
winter and spring 2000 operations will be discussed. These meetings are open forum discussions on
the Aspinall Unit reservoir operations with many interested groups participating. Anyone needing
further information about these meetings should contact Ed Warner in the Grand Junction Area
Office at [phone].

NA VAJO - December unregulated inflow into Navajo was 10,000 acre-feet or 40 percent of normal.
Precipitation for the month was recorded at only 15 percent of normal. The current snowpack in the
basin is only 19 percenl of normal for the Upper San Juan and 28 percent of normal for the Animas
river basins. The lastest April through July forecasl is for 350,000 acre-feet, or about 45 percent of
normal runoff. The current reservoir inflow is about 100 cfs and the water surface elevation is
6070.96 feet which corresponds to a reservoir contenl of about 1,494,000 acre-feet. All reservoir
releases are being made lhrough the powerplant and are currently al 500 cfs. This release rate will
remain at this level through the winter months.