WSP08168

• File Number: 8282.600.40
• Description: Colorado River Reservoir Operations
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Date: 6/1/1997
• Author: CWCB
• Title: Colorado River Reservoir Operations Status Reports - Part 2B, June and August
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Data

releases should continue through the month of June,

The current snowpack conditions in the Gunnison River Basin are
measuring close to normal for stations above 10,000 feet
elevation. The river runoff is forecasted to be about 145
percent of normal for the April through July period. Current
weather conditions will play an important role with respect to
river flows and reservoir elevations. Presently the basin is
experiencing cool moist weather producing significant amounts of
rain. When combined with the snowmelt runoff the current high
river flows could be extended for a longer period of time.

The next meeting of the "Aspinall Unit Working Group" is
scheduled for August 21, 1997, in Grand Junction, Colorado.
These meetings are open forum discussions on the Aspinall Unit
operations with many interested groups participating. Anyone
needing further information about this meeting should contact Ed
Warner in the Grand Junction Area Office at [phone].

NAVAJO - May unregulated inflow into Navajo Reservoir was about
355,000 acre-feet or approximately 127 percent of average. The
current reservoir inflow is about 8,200 cfs and the water surface
elevation is at 6067.51 feet which corresponds to a reservoir
content of 1,446,00 acre-feet.

The basin snowpack above Navajo Reservoir is about average for
this time of year for elevations above 10,000 feet. The April
through July runoff volume for the San Juan River Basin above
Navajo Reservoir is projected to about 1,000,000 acre-feet or 129
percent of average.

Special spring reservoir releases are being made this runoff
season to accommodate endangered fish studies being conducted on
the San Juan River. Reservoir releases have been at 5,000 cfs
for the last two weeks, starting June 10 they will be reduced
each week until the flow is reduced to 600 cfs on July 15, 1997.
This base flow level will continue through the remaining summer
months until the end of September.

Anyone needing further information about the daily operations of
Navajo Reservoir please contact Don Fazzan or Rege Leach in the
Durango Office at [phone].

GLEN CANYON - Inflows to Lake Powell in May were about 158
percent of normal, a result of significant melting of the above
normal snowpack. Hot temperatures during the last week have
greatly boosted streamflows throughout the basin and most
locations are experiencing the highest flow of the year. The
snow level is generally above 10,000 feet elevation, spotty but
still deep in places. The National Weather Service June forecast
for the April - July'unregulated runoff into Lake Powell is
estimated to be 12.2 MAF, 158 percent of normal, an increase of
0.7 MAF from the mid-May forecast.

We have increased Glen Canyon Dam releases to 24,000 cfs today
and will monitor the upstream river gauges. Future release

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