ASPINALL – March unregulated inflow into Blue Mesa Reservoir was 36,000 acre-feet or 101 percent of average. On April 17, 2008 the basin snowpack was 137 percent of average. Precipitation during March was 70 percent of average. The current inflow rate into Blue Mesa Reservoir is about 2100 cfs while reservoir releases are averaging about 2400 cfs. Currently the weather pattern has been colder than average, however spring conditions are being forecasted for mid April. This will most likely start the annual spring snowmelt and we expect the elevation at Blue Mesa Reservoir to start increasing. Blue Mesa's present elevation is 7466.63 feet, which corresponds to a storage content of about 413,000 acre-feet.
The latest Water Supply Forecast for Water Year 2008 has been issued and the April through July unregulated inflow is forecasted to be at 1,060,000 acre-feet (147% of normal), the same amount as forecasted from last month’s forecast. Based on this forecast, Blue Mesa Reservoir is projected to fill this season.
Because of scheduled maintenance activities at Blue Mesa and Crystal Dams during the month of March, reservoir releases were curtailed causing the reservoir content at Blue Mesa to be higher than needed. Given these conditions, bypass releases from Crystal Dam were initiated on April 10, 2008 . Releases from Crystal are currently set at 3100 cfs. The Gunnison Diversion Tunnel started taking water for the new season on March 31, 2008 . The current diversion rate in the tunnel is 350 cfs, which results in a river flow below the diversion tunnel of approximately 2750 cfs. These rates will most likely change as conditions warrant, primarily as we respond to changes in the forecasted spring inflows. To view the most current reservoir elevation, content, inflow and release, click on: Blue Mesa Reservoir Data or Crystal Reservoir Data.
The next meeting of the "Aspinall Unit Working Group" will be held on Thursday, April 24, 2008 at 1:00 PM in Reclamation’s Grand Junction Office. At this meeting, review of this winter’s reservoir operations, and plans for this spring and summer operations will be discussed. These meetings are open forum discussions on the Aspinall Unit reservoir operations with many interested groups participating. Anyone needing further information about these meetings should contact Dan Crabtree in the Grand Junction Area Office at (970) 248-0652. To view minutes from the last Aspinall meeting, click on: Meeting Notes.
Paul Davidson
April 17, 2008
Email comments/inquires to: ResourceMgr@uc.usbr.gov