Western Colorado Area Office

Project Notices

Aspinall Unit
Crystal Reservoir Releases - Revised
April 29, 2008

The Bureau of Reclamation will be increasing the release from Crystal Reservoir by a total of 500 cubic feet per second (cfs), from 3600 cfs to 4100 cfs on Tuesday, April 29. Releases will be increased by 250 cfs at 8:00 a.m. and then by 250 cfs at 10:00 a.m. for a total increase of 500 cfs. Releases at Crystal are being increased in order to manage the forecasted runoff volume and minimize spilling of the Aspinall Unit reservoirs later in the year. The April 15 runoff forecast for Blue Mesa is 1,060,000 ac-ft which is 147% of the normal spring runoff. Current snowpack in the Upper Gunnison basin is 137% of normal. The final release rate of 4100 cfs at Crystal Reservoir will be maintained until further notice.

As of today the Gunnison Tunnel is diverting around 550 cfs and flows in the Gunnison River through the Black Canyon are around 3200 cfs. After the final change on Tuesday, Gunnison Tunnel diversions should still be around 550 cfs and flows in the Black Canyon should be around 3700 cfs. Current flow information is obtained from provisional data that may undergo revision subsequent to review.

This scheduled release change is subject to changes in river flows and weather conditions.

For questions or concerns regarding these operations contact:

Paul Davidson at (801) 524-3642 or e-mail at pdavidson@uc.usbr.gov
Rick Clayton at (801) 524-3710 or e-mail at rclayton@uc.usbr.gov