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

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Some hour to hour fluctuations in releases are now occurring. The amount of fluctuation is being
constrained by the 1992 FGBO which states that flows on the 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 800 cfs on any given day.

Open forum discussions on Rarning Gorge operations have been taking place at meetings of the
"Rarning Gorge Working Group". The next Working Group meeting is scheduled for April 13 at I
pm in Vernal, UT. For more infonnation on the Working Group, contact Ed Vidmar at
801-379-1000.

ASPINALL - February unregulated inflow into Blue Mesa was 26,000 acre-feet or 118 percent of
average. Precipitation in the Gunnison basin was l20 percent of average for February. The basin
snowpack is averaging about 86 percent of nonnal as of March 12, 2000. Currently the inflow rate
into Blue Mesa Reservoir is averaging about 350 cfs and reservoir releases are averaging about 600 .
cfs. Blue Mesa's current elevation is 7487.36 feet which corresponds to a storage content of about
561,000 acre-feet.

Releases from Crystal Dam are currently 700 cfs. We are planning to increase releases up to 900 cfs
on March 14. These increased releases are intended for the startup of the Gunnison Diversion .
Tunnel, which will be timed so that the river below the tunnel remains steady at 700 cfs.

The next meeting of the "Aspinall Unit Working Group" will be held April 20, 2000 in Grand
Junction, Colorado. At this meeting, review of last fall and winter operations, and plans for this
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 infonnation about these meetings should contact Ed Warner in the Grand Junction Area
Office at [phone].

NA VA.lO - February unregulated inflow inlo Navajo was 15,000 acre-feet or 52 percent ofnonnal.
Precipitation for the month was near lOO percent of nonnal. The current snowpack in the basin is
only 53 percent of nonnal for the Upper San Juan and 67 percent of nonnal for the Animas river
basins. The latest Aprillhrough July forecast is for 390,000 acre-feet, or about 51 percent of nonnal
runoff. The current reservoir inflow is about 250 cfs and the water surface elevation is 6068.47 feel
which corresponds to a reservoir content of about 1,459,000 acre-feet. All reservoir releases are
being made through the powerplant and are currently at 500 cfs. This release rate will most probably
remain at this level through the rest of the year. Currently, with the low runoff forecast, it looks like
there will be no Spring peak hydrograph release for endangered fish this season.

The Bureau of Reclamation is planning to hold a public meeting on Navajo Reservoir operations on
April 17,2000 in Farmington, New Mexico. At this meeting, review of last fall and winter
operations, and plans for this spring 2000 operations will be discussed. These are open forum
discussions on the operation of Navajo Reservoir with many interested groups participating. Anyone
interested in the general operation of the reservoir is encouraged to attend. For further infonnation
about these meetings or the daily operations of Navajo Reservoir please contact Ed Warner in
Reclamation's Grand Junction Office at [phone].