Aspinall Unit Reservoirs

Blue Mesa Reservoir

Current Status

Last Updated: October 24, 2023

Aspinall Unit Reservoirs – As of October 21, 2023, releases from Crystal Dam are approximately 1,100 cfs. Flows of the Gunnison River in the Black Canyon are being maintained at about 330 cfs while the Gunnison Tunnel is diverting 820 cfs. Flows in the Whitewater Reach of the Gunnison River are about 1,010 cfs.

The unregulated inflow volume in September to Blue Mesa was 26,100 af (86 percent of average). Unregulated Inflow volumes forecasted for Blue Mesa for the next three months (October, November and December) are projected to be: 29,000 af (78 percent of average), 28,000 af (93 percent of average) and 26,000 af (104 percent of average), respectively. The October 24-Month Study will be reflective of these new forecasted inflows.

The forecasted 2024 water year unregulated inflow volume to Blue Mesa is projected to be 845,000 af (93 percent of average). The water supply period (April-July) for 2024 is forecasted currently for an unregulated inflow volume of to be 595,000 af of unregulated inflow (94 percent of average).

Blue Mesa elevation has increased dramatically between April and the end of June in water year 2023. On April 9, 2023 the elevation of Blue Mesa was 7444.46 feet above sea level and Blue Mesa was 36.3% full. On June 25, 2023, the elevation of Blue Mesa reached its peak for the year at 7512.47 feet above sea level and Blue Mesa storage reached 92 4% of full. Blue Mesa ended water year 2023 (September 30, 2023) at an elevation of 7496.50 feet with about 629,478 acre-feet of storage which was 76 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 18, 2024 at 1:00 p.m., in person in Montrose Colorado. This will be an in-person meeting with an option for remote participation. Contact Erik Knight in the Grand Junction Area Office at (970) 248-0629 to get more information regarding this Operation Group meeting.

 Update 10/21/2023 - Rick Clayton

To view the most current reservoir elevation, content, inflow and release, click on: Blue Mesa Reservoir Data or Crystal Reservoir Data.

Contact

Please contact the Operations Group via e-mail at ResourceMgr@usbr.gov for additional information.

Additional Information

Related Projects & Facilities

Streamflow Data

Water Supply Forecast

from the Natural Resources Conservation Service and Colorado Basin River Forecast Center

Working Group

Operational Documents

Related Links

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As of June 11, 2023, releases from Crystal Dam are approximately 2,000 cfs.  Flows of the Gunnison River in the Black Canyon are being maintained at about 1,040 cfs while the Gunnison Tunnel is diverting 1,050 cfs.  Flows in the Whitewater Reach of the Gunnison River are about 6,400 cfs.
The unregulated inflow volume in May to Blue Mesa was 327,400 af (163 percent of average). Unregulated Inflow volumes forecasted for Blue Mesa for the next three months (June, July and August) are projected to be: 326,000 af (130 percent of average), 115,000 af (106 percent of average) and 60,000 af (105 percent of average), respectively. The June 24-Month Study will be reflective of these new forecasted inflows.
The forecasted 2023 water year unregulated inflow volume to Blue Mesa is projected to be 1,095,000 af (121 percent of average).  The water supply period (April-July) for 2023 is forecasted to be 845,000 af of unregulated inflow (133 percent of average).
Blue Mesa elevation has increased dramatically over the past month and as of June 11, 2023, was 7,503.21 feet above sea level corresponding to a live storage of 685,050 acre-feet which is 83 percent of capacity.  By the end of water year 2023 (September 30, 2023) Blue Mesa elevation is projected to be approximately 7,502 feet with about 675,000 acre-feet of storage which will be 82 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 August 24, 2023 at 1:00 p.m., in person at the Elk Creek Visitor Center at Blue Mesa Reservoir.  This will be an in-person meeting with an option for remote participation.  Contact Erik Knight in the Grand Junction Area Office at (970) 248-0629 to get more information regarding this Operation Group meeting.

Last Updated: 10/24/23