WSP06355

• File Number: 8282.600.40
• Description: Colorado River Reservoir Operations
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Date: 11/1/1996
• Author: CWCB
• Title: Colorado River Reservoir Operations Status Reports - Part 2B, November and December
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Data

November through February.

The next operation meeting will be held in March 1997. Anyone
needing information about daily operations please contact Don
Fazzan or Rege Leach at the Durango Office at [phone].

GLEN CANYON - Inflow to Lake Powell in November increased slightly
over previous months, to 86 percent of normal, the result of
significant fall storms. Inflow is expected to remain slightly
below average through the winter months.

With the signing of the Record of Decision by Secretary Babbitt,
two of the hourly operating parameters of Glen Can
chanq~ the maxi!!)um,_h()1lrly ]Ipra~ and the a < allowab
~e1eas~under normal power plant operations. The first parameter
is now the second limi t has
oeen raised from to 25,000 cfs. e increase
upramping at the dam w~ mean a hydropower resources can
respond more quickly to changing power demands. The increase in
maximum release will likely affect only those months in which the
monthly release volume is greater than 900,000 acre-feet.

Actual implementation of these changes in operating parameters will
follow the preparation of final operating criteria and a plan of
operations as directed by the 1992 Grand Canyon Protection Act and
will likely occur by December 1996.

Releases this fall will average about 10,000 cfs in November,
rising to about 13,000 cfs in December. Daily fluctuations (the
difference between the daily maximum and minimum) will be limited
to 6,000 cfs through November and 8,000 cfs for December.
Beginning on January 1,1997, runoff projections will be issued by
the National Weather Service for the 1997 spring runoff. These
firmer estimates will likely affect the monthly releases for
calendar year 1997.

For the next year or two, releases to equalize storage between
Lakes Powell and Mead are expected to control the annual release
volume. This will likely result in releases greater than the
minimum oO]ec€ive release of 8.23 MAF (a release of 10.1 MAF is now
expected under average inflow assumptions for water year 1997).
For further information contact Randall Peterson at(80l)524-3715.