Current Status
Last Updated: June 10, 2026
Aspinall Unit Reservoirs – As of June 10, 2026, releases from Crystal Dam are approximately 1,475 cfs. Flows of the Gunnison River in Black Canyon are about 440 cfs and flows in the Whitewater Reach of the Gunnison River is approximately 815 cfs. Per the 2012 Aspinall ROD, reduction in baseflow targets are allowed under severe drought. In consultation with the USFWS, the baseflow target at Whitewater is 815 cfs for June 2026.
The current 2026 water year unregulated inflow volume forecast for Blue Mesa is 384,000 af 42 percent of average). The unregulated inflow forecast for the 2026 water supply period (April-July) is 150,000 af (23 percent of average). Conditions are very dry and Blue Mesa Reservoir will not fill this year. Current projections indicate Blue Mesa storage will continue to decrease through the rest of water year 2026 with a projected elevation and storage of 7412.17 feet and 140,000 af, 17 percent of live capacity.
Unregulated inflow in May to Blue Mesa was 55,000 af (27 percent of average). The unregulated inflow forecast to Blue Mesa for June, July, and August, is 38,000 af (15 percent of average), 20,000 af (19 percent of average), and 25,000 af (44 percent of average), respectively.
Under the Aspinall Record of Decision (Aspinall ROD), in combination with the Black Canyon Reserved Water Right Decree (BC Reserved Water Right), a spring peak release from Crystal Dam was made on May 27th and May 28th resulting in a mean flow for 24 hours in the Black Canyon of 713 cfs. Spring peak 1 day peak in the Whitewater Reach were required to reach 900 cfs under the Aspinall ROD this year based on the dry conditions that are occurring. Flows in this reach have been well above 900 cfs for most of the spring.
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 comment 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 Andrew Limbach in the Western Colorado Area office at (970) 248-0644.
The next Operations Group meeting will be held in August, time and date to be determined. Contact Andrew Limbach in the Western Colorado Area office at (970) 248-0644 for more information regarding this Operation Group meeting.
Update 6/10/2026 - Nathaniel Todea
To view the most current reservoir elevation, content, inflow and release, click on: Blue Mesa Reservoir Data or Crystal Reservoir Data.
