Current Status
Last Updated: September 9, 2024
Aspinall Unit Reservoirs – As of September 8, 2024 (end of day), releases from Crystal Dam are approximately 1,450 cfs. Flows of the Gunnison River in the Black Canyon are being maintained at about 400 cfs while the Gunnison Tunnel is diverting 1,050 cfs. Flows in the Whitewater Reach of the Gunnison River are about 1,200 cfs. The baseflow target in the lower Gunnison River, as measured at the Whitewater gage, is 1050 cfs for August through December.
The unregulated inflow volume in August to Blue Mesa was 64,000 af (111 percent of average). Unregulated inflow volumes forecasted for Blue Mesa for the next three months (September, October, and November) are projected to be: 35,000 af (100 percent of average), 34,000 af (93 percent of average), and 29,000 af (98 percent of average), respectively.
The forecasted 2024 water year unregulated inflow volume to Blue Mesa is projected to be 914,000 af (101 percent of average). The water supply period (April-July) for 2024 had an unregulated inflow volume of about 653,000 af (100 percent of average).
On July 9, 2024 the elevation of Blue Mesa reached its peak for the water year at 7499.75 feet above sea level and Blue Mesa storage reached 79% full. By the end of water year 2024 (September 30, 2024) Blue Mesa elevation is projected to be approximately 7,487.25 feet above sea level with about 556,380 acre-feet of storage which will be 67 percent of capacity.
The Aspinall Unit Operations Group is an open public forum for information exchange between Reclamation and the stakeholders of the Aspinall Unit. The public is encouraged to attend and comments on the operations and plans presented by Reclamation at these meetings. Meeting notes from past working Group meetings are posted on the Operations Group webpage. For more information on this group and these meetings please contact Erik Knight in the Grand Junction Area Office at (970) 248-0629.
The next Operations Group meeting will be held January 23, 2025 at 1:00 p.m. The in person meeting is to be determined and will be broadcast virtually. Contact Erik Knight in the Grand Junction Area Office at (970) 248-0629 to get more information regarding this Operation Group meeting.
Update 9/9/2024 - Nathaniel Todea
To view the most current reservoir elevation, content, inflow and release, click on: Blue Mesa Reservoir Data or Crystal Reservoir Data.
