Albuquerque Area Office

Water Operations Group

Annual Operations Plan - Calendar Year 2001

Heron Reservoir - San Juan-Chama Diversions:The Chama Field Division began diverting water on March 21 and will continue to maximize diversions as is done each year. The April 1 runoff forecast for Rio Blanco at the Blanco Diversion was 51,000 ac-ft and the Navajo River at the Oso Diversion was 63,000 ac-ft. which was 94% and 97% of average respectively. An estimated runoff of the Little Navajo River at the Little Oso Diversion is 6,900 ac-ft. Of a total of 120,000 ac-ft, about 94,500 ac-ft was estimated to be available for diversion and the balance needed to meet bypass requirements. The snowpack in the San Juan Basin has remained above average for much of the season. By the end of April it was 120% of average.

With an estimated inflow of 94,500 ac-ft and allocations of 96,200 ac-ft, the level of Heron Reservoir should not change appreciably from the beginning of the year. Releases from the Reservoir will be mainly toward the end of the year when the City of Albuquerque will move it's allotment of 48,200 ac-ft to Abiquiu Reservoir and MRGCD will move it's allotment of 20,900 to El Vado Reservoir. The Bureau of Reclamation had also released 13,250 ac-ft in April which was purchased from other contractors to repay MRGCD for water used in 2000 as part of the supplemental water program.

[Heron Reservoir]