Current Status
Last Updated: May 12, 2023
As of May 8, 2023 (end of day), Flaming Gorge Reservoir pool elevation is 6012.21 feet, which amounts to 72 percent of live storage capacity. Unregulated inflow volume for the month of April is approximately 188,000 acre-feet (af), which is 150 percent of the average April unregulated inflow volume. The current average daily release is 800 cfs.The 2023 DROA Plan is being finalized and will be provided through processes outlined in the DROA Framework, https://www.usbr.gov/dcp/droa.html pages.
A new operation will be finalized in May 2023, and this will contain an operation plan from May 2023 through April 2024.
Spring Release -- The Larval Trigger Study Plan to assist in the recovery of the Razorback sucker (protected under the Endangered Species Act) is the next operational plan to occur this spring. The adaptive management experiment is triggered by appearance of razorback sucker larvae which is correlated to the weather. Current models show that the trigger could occur in early June, pending hydrology and weather. Below is a description of the likelihood of the trigger occurring. The mean calendar date of the first capture of razorback sucker larvae (i.e., the "larval trigger") is May 28 (median May 27) and ranges from May 7 to June 24. Historically, 50% of first captures occurred between May 21 and June 2; 75% occurred between May 16 and June 4. In general, first capture of larvae is earliest in years characterized by low flows and/or warmer conditions, and latest in years characterized by high flows and/or cooler conditions. Pending the timing of the trigger and Yampa River flows, the goal is to achieve greater than 18,600 cfs for at least 5 days in Reach 2, near Jensen Utah. Releases from Flaming Gorge Dam will vary to meet target flows in Reach 2.
The May unregulated inflows into Flaming Gorge for the next three months projects above average. May, June, and July forecasted unregulated inflow volumes amount to 415,000 af (167 percent of average), 490,000 af (126 percent of average), and 207,000 af (103 percent of average), respectively. The May water supply forecast of the April through July unregulated inflow volume into Flaming Gorge Reservoir is 1,300,000 acre-feet (135% of average). Due to the May official forecast Upper Green April – July forecast being at a 31% exceedance value, spring operations will use an average hydrologic classification operation.
To view the most current reservoir elevation, content, inflow and release, click on: Flaming Gorge Reservoir Data.
Working Group Meetings
The Flaming Gorge Working Group is an open public forum for information exchange between Reclamation and the stakeholders of Flaming Gorge Dam. 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 Working Group webpage. For more information on this group and these meetings please contact Dale Hamilton at 801-379-1186.
Reclamation is planning to hold Flaming Gorge Working Group meetings on August 15, 2023, at 10:00 am in Vernal (and Teams virtual meeting) (tentative).
Past working group meeting summaries can be accessed on the Working Group pages.
