FONTENELLE - Releases from Fontenelle Reservoir are currently 700 cfs and the elevation is 6469.0 feet above sea level (about 37.0 feet from full pool). Inflows are averaging 1100 cfs so the reservoir elevation is slowly rising. Releases from Fontenelle Reservoir will likely be increased to power plant capacity (1300 cfs – 1500 cfs) in mid-May, once it is evident that the spring runoff has begun.
The water supply forecast for Fontenelle Reservoir inflow during the 2008 April through July spring runoff season has been issued by the Colorado Basin River Forecast Center. As of May 1st this forecast is projecting inflows to be 76% of normal (665,000 acre-feet). Based on this forecast, Fontenelle Reservoir will likely fill this year by late July. The projected reservoir elevation on August 1, 2008 is 6505.7 feet above sea level which is within 1 foot of the full pool elevation (6506 feet above sea level). It is likely that releases from Fontenelle Reservoir will exceed powerplant capacity (about 1500 cfs) later this spring to safely route the inflow to the reservoir.
Open forum discussions on Fontenelle operations take place at the "Fontenelle Reservoir Working Group" meetings. The Working Group is a forum for information exchange between Reclamation and other parties associated with the operation of Fontenelle Reservoir. The public is encouraged to attend and express their concerns and interests with regard to Fontenelle Reservoir operation. The spring Working Group meeting was held on April 22, 2008. Notes from this meeting will be posted on the web later in May. The next Working Group meeting is scheduled for August 19, 2008 at 10:00 am at the Wyoming Department of Fish and Game in Green River Wyoming. For more information about the Fontenelle Working Group, contact Ed Vidmar at 801-379-1182.
Updated May 6, 2008
Katrina Grantz
Email comments/inquires to: ResourceMgr@uc.usbr.gov