Current Status

Last Updated: September 3, 2026

As of September 03, 2026, releases from Crystal Dam are approximately 1,245 cfs. Flows of the Gunnison River in Black Canyon are near 245 cfs and flows in the Whitewater Reach of the Gunnison River are approximately 820 cfs. Per the 2012 Aspinall ROD, reductions in baseflow targets are allowed under severe drought. In consultation with the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the baseflow target at Whitewater (USGS gage 09152500) is 500 cfs for September 2026.

The current 2026 water year unregulated inflow volume forecast for Blue Mesa is 377,000 af (42 percent of average). The unregulated inflow forecast for the 2026 water supply period (April-July) is 155,000 af (24 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, ending water year 2026 with a projected elevation and storage of 7,412.01 feet and 140,000 af (17 percent of live capacity).

Unregulated inflow in August to Blue Mesa was 16,000 af (27 percent of average). The unregulated inflow forecast to Blue Mesa for September, October, and November is 17,000 af (49 percent of average), 21,000 af (58 percent of average), and 18,000 af (61 percent of average) respectively.

In response to extreme drought conditions in the Gunnison River Basin, Reclamation has collaborated with the US Fish and Wildlife Service, reducing baseflow targets at Whitewater to 500 cfs until further notice.Baseflow targets were adjusted to conserve reservoir storage and preserve an instream flow in a manner consistent with the authorized purposes of the Aspinall Unit.

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. The next Operations Group meeting will be held in January 2027. A specific date and location has yet to be determined. For more information on this group and these meetings please contact Andrew Limbach in the Western Colorado Area office at (970) 248-0644 or alimbach@usbr.gov.

Updated September 03, 2026 - Alexander Walker

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