Western Colorado Area Office

This meeting was held at Elk Creek Visitor Center at Blue Mesa Reservoir. Attendees are noted on the distribution list. Handouts are available for review and can be found in the menu at the bottom of the page.

The purpose of operation meetings-- held in January, April, and August-- is to gather input for determining upcoming operations for Blue Mesa, Morrow Point, and Crystal Reservoirs.  This input is used in Reclamation’s development of specific operations for the Aspinall Unit and for the overall 24-month study (www.usbr.gov/uc/water/crsp/studies/index.html) for operation of Reclamation projects in the Upper Colorado River Basin, which include plans for Glen Canyon, Flaming Gorge, and Navajo Units, as well as the Aspinall Unit.  Operation of the Aspinall Unit considers projected inflows to its reservoirs, hydropower and flood control needs, existing water rights, minimum instream flows, target elevations for reservoirs, flow needs for endangered fish and other resources, recreation, and other factors.  In addition, the meetings are used to coordinate activities and exchange information among agencies, water users, and other interested parties concerning the Gunnison River.

Handouts provided included data on 2009 operations; projected inflows to the reservoirs for remainder of 2009; and potential operation plans under probable maximum, most probable, and probable minimum runoff forecasts for the coming fall and winter.

The Fish and Wildlife Service flow recommendations for endangered fish have been completed and published, and a draft Aspinall Operations EIS has been released to evaluate alternative operations to help meet these recommendations.  In addition, the water right for the Black Canyon National Park has been quantified and adjudicated.  These operation meetings will be used more in the future to discuss proposals for long-term operation plans to address these and related resource management issues.

General: Blue Mesa Reservoir capacities are described in meetings as follows:  The reservoir holds 940,700 acre-feet.  Active capacity is 748,400, inactive capacity is 81,100, and dead storage is 111,200.  Live capacity is the active plus inactive, which totals 829,500.  Discussions during operation meetings use live capacity.

2009 Operations:

The actual April through July inflow to Blue Mesa was 772,000 af which is considered an average wet year.  The 31-year average is 720,000 af.  The forecast varied over the months leading to runoff:

January ---750,000
March 15---680,000
May 1 ---690,000
May 15 ---690,000
June 1 ---790,000
June 15 ---765,000

Many operational decisions, such as determining Black Canyon water right target, are made on May 1; and it can be seen that the forecast increased 100,000 af between May 15 and June 1, causing adjustments in operations.

Peak runoff occurred in May and was earlier than average.  Blue Mesa filled and had a content of 827,000 af at the end of June.

Based on the May 1 forecast, a peak flow of 5,864 cfs was determined to be the Black Canyon reserved right target for this year.  The actual instantaneous peak was 7,340 cfs on May 13 and the average daily peak was 6,730 cfs.  In general, operation plans were to increase flows 25% per day leading to the peak and then ramp downward at 15%.  As discussed at the meeting, however, flows in the Black Canyon increased from 3,440 cfs (gage height 6.37 ft)  on  May 12 to 7,340 cfs on May 13 (gage height 9.41 ft).  This resulted from miscommunications between Reclamation and Western on when to start spilling Crystal compounded by high inflows from the Cimarron and high power releases from Morrow Point.  The abrupt change was a concern for river safety and fisheries and was outside of the planned operation.  The bright side is that Reclamation and Western can learn from the experience and make sure that plans are clearly understood in the future.  It also points out that when Crystal reaches spill elevation it is difficult to manage downstream flows.

Two smaller peaks occurred in June after the main peak; these occurred to avoid uncontrolled spill at Blue Mesa.

Concerning the abrupt flow change, Kent Holsinger representing CREDA asked what was bad about the abrupt change.  Reclamation replied that there were fishery and safety concerns and changes were outside of the planned operation.  The Colorado Division of Wildlife had hoped for increases to be ramped more gradually to protect the fishery.  Clayton Palmer with Western stated that lots of water used up during ramping and was interested in learning if ramping can occur at a steeper rate…would like to study this.  Western asked if we can define any damages from the abrupt change this year.

The Colorado Division of Wildlife state that the 25% ramping rate is already higher than what they recommend and the concern is that more frequent peaks and steep ramping rates will adversely affect the trout fishery.  Data collected after the peak indicate a significant reduction in brown trout fry this year (fry would have emerged in the river at the time of the peak).  Brown trout fry fared much better last year with more gradual ramping, even though the 2008 peak was actually higher than this year.  Rainbow trout, which emerge later, appear to have increased number of fry.

At Delta, flows peaked at 12,500 cfs with no significant problems reported.  Flows in critical habitat peaked at 12,900 cfs as measured at Whitewater and there were 13 days above 8,070 cfs (half-bankfull).  Endangered fish flow recommendations, based on May 1 forecast, would call for 10 days above 8,070 cfs and a peak of 8,070 cfs.

Operations will lower Blue Mesa elevation to 7,490 feet by the end of December to meet the upstream icing target.  Flows downstream from the Gunnison Tunnel should remain around 1,000 cfs through August and begin to decline in early September.  Flows from later in September to mid-November should be in the 650-750 cfs range.  Late November and December flows will be in the 2000 cfs range to maximize power production in the high demand winter months and to meet the icing target.  Flows would taper off to around 750 cfs next March, subject to changing snowpack conditions.

Input was requested from those in attendance concerning 2009 operations:  The Colorado Division of Wildlife requests flows in the 700 to 1000 cfs range from Sept. 29 to Oct. 2 for Gunnison Gorge trout inventory.

National Park Service - Tour boat could operate entire season this year.  High spring flows in Black Canyon had good effects on scouring sediment and undesirable vegetation.  Native riparian vegetation should benefit.  Expect to have inspected 15,000 boats at Blue Mesa this year for mussels; 3 or 4 boats did show contamination.  Thanks to Division of Wildlife for assisting in inspections.

Colorado Water Conservation Board - Randy Seaholm retires in November.  Board still plans to provide comments on the draft programmatic biological opinion.

Bureau of Land Management - Timing of the spring peak this year was good because a mid-May peak does not affect as many recreationists as a later peak would.  There were a few complaints about high water in mid May, and the smaller peaks later in the year discussed above caused some complaints.  BLM staff report positive resource responses to the peak flow including reduction in thistle and other non-native plants.  Communication with Reclamation and river users was good and this is important to continue in future years.  Sudden spikes in flow, such as occurred this year, can cause safety problems.  In general, flows below 3,000 cfs are boatable by experienced boaters, above 3,000 cfs boating becomes more difficult, and flows above 7,000 cfs can create “very scary water.”

Upper Gunnison Water Conservation District - Working with Uncompahgre Valley Water Users and Gunnison Electric on potential development of hydropower at Taylor Park.  In future, may request lease of power privilege from Reclamation. 

Colorado State Engineer - Recognizes that changes in forecasts and runoff timing this year can make operations difficult.

Dust on Snow - Chris Landry reported that there were 12 dust events last winter.  Early runoff was directly related to the dust layer on snowpack.  Runoff was early and fast.  In response to a question, indicated that chemical analysis of the dust does not show it is a significant source of nitrates or phosphates but is high in calcium.

Colorado River Water Conservation District - Stressed that the programmatic biological opinion is very significant to water users in the basin.  Suggests more outreach and public meetings to inform people about the opinion and its ramifications.  Need to publicize benefits and costs, including fee requirement for depletions >100 af after 1988.   Concerning the Aspinall EIS, the district suggests a cooperating agency meeting before documents are finalized. The District has a grant program—check their website.  September 18th is the District’s annual seminar in Grand Junction—will feature Asst. Secretary of Interior, discussion on Lower Colorado River operations, and dust on snow. The District has purchased a parcel of land in the Grand Valley to facilitate a water management project involving the Orchard Mesa Irrigation system. 

Western Area Power - Appreciate spring operation efforts.  There is a low-steady flow experiment at Glenn Canyon in September and October.  This should not affect Crystal releases but may affect Blue Mesa and Morrow Point peaking operations.

CREDA - CRSP pumping rate goes up 11.2% in October.  Last year rate went up 6%.

USGS - Working on selenium concentration trend analysis.  Will increase Uncompahgre River monitoring; new North Fork gage is operating.

High Country Citizens - Gunnison Round Table has finalized map of critical non-consumptive water use areas.  In 2010 there will be rule making on new water quality standards.

Trout Unlimited - Stressed that it is important to adhere to ramping rates for safety and to protect the fishery.

The next operation meeting is scheduled for 1:00 p.m., Thursday, January 21 in Montrose, Colorado. Exact location to be determined.

Meeting Minutes (Portable Document Format (PDF)): View these minutes as mailed (includes distribution/attendee list). Meeting handouts listed separately

see archive August 2009