|
<br />I
<br />, '.
<br />
<br />ASPlNAU - June unregulated inflow into Blue Mesa Reservoir was 155,000 acre-feet or 55
<br />percent of average, Precipitation in the Gunnison basin for June was 50 percent of average,
<br />Blue Mesa Reservoir had a peak inflow of about 4,800 cfs recorded on May 16, 2001. Since that
<br />time the nmoff has slowly receded and we expect the spring nmoff to reach normal summer base
<br />flows within the next several weeks, The current inflow rate into Blue Mesa Reservoir is about
<br />1,300 cfs and reservoir releases are averaging about 1,800 cfs, Blue Mesa's present elevation is
<br />7501.66 feet, which corresponds to a storage content of about 675,000 acre-feet. The July fmal
<br />inflow forecast issued by the National Weather Service on July 5, 2001, is forecasting April
<br />through July unregulated inflow into Blue Mesa Reservoir to be about 495,000 acre-feet, or 71
<br />percent of average, This is a reduction of 5,000 acre-feet from last month's forecasted inflow,
<br />
<br />Releases from Crystal Dam are currently set at 1650 cfs, The Gunnison Diversion Tunnel has
<br />been diverting about 1,000 cfs which leaves approximately 650 cfs in the Gunnison River below
<br />the tunnel. With respect to this year's lower than normal nmoff, the river flows down the Black
<br />Canyon of the Gunnison will likely remain between 600 and 650 cfs for the next several months,
<br />
<br />The next meeting of the "Aspinall Unit Working Group" will be held on August 23, 2001 at
<br />12:30 pm in the National Park Service Elk Creek Visitor Center at Blue Mesa Reservoir, At this
<br />meeting, review of last Spring and Summer operations, and plans for this Fall 2001 operations
<br />will be discussed. These meetings are open forum discussions on the Aspinall Unit reservoir ,
<br />operations with many interested groups participating, Anyone needing further information about
<br />these meetings should contact Dan Crabtree in the Grand Junction Area Office at (970) 248-0652.
<br />
<br />NA VAJO - Average daily releases from Navajo Reservoir are currently 250 cfs. This release rate
<br />could remain at this level through July 20, 2001 after which we plan to return to a base flow
<br />release of 500 to 600 cfs.
<br />
<br />The low flow release of 250 cfs is part of Bureau's test release for data collection purposes,
<br />Information obtained from this test flow will be used in an environmental impact statement (EIS)
<br />on the operations of Navajo Dam and Reservoir, The low flow of 250 cfs is necessary in testing
<br />the flow recommendations by the San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program to
<br />benefit downstream endangered fish while protecting existing and new water development.
<br />
<br />Navajo's current reservoir inflow is averaging about 850 cfs, The reservoir water surface
<br />elevation is 6069,62 feet which corresponds to a content of about 1,475,000 acre-feet.
<br />
<br />Precipitation in the San Juan basin was 40 percent of average for the month of June, The inflow
<br />forecast issued by the National Weather Service on July 5, 2001, forecasted April through July
<br />unregulated inflow into Navajo Reservoir to be about 840,000 acre-feet, or 109 percent of
<br />average, This is a decrease of about 80,000 acre-feet over last month's inflow forecast,
<br />
<br />A public meeting on Navajo Reservoir operations will be held on August 21, 2001 at 1:00 pm in
<br />Farmington, New Mexico, At this meeting, review of last Spring and Summer operations and
<br />plans for this Fall 200 1 operations will be discussed, These are open forum discussions on the
<br />operation of Navajo Reservoir with many interested groups participating, Anyone interested in
<br />the general operation of the reservoir is encouraged to attend, For further information about
<br />these meetings or the daily operations of Navajo Reservoir please contact Pat Page in
<br />Reclamation's Durango, Colorado Office at (970) 385-6560,
<br />
|