Western Colorado Area Office

Project Notices

Aspinall Unit
Crystal Reservoir Releases - Revised
January 12, 2009

The Bureau of Reclamation will be increasing the release from Crystal Reservoir by 100 cubic feet per second (cfs) from 700 cfs to 800 cfs on Monday, January 12 starting at 7:00 a.m. Releases at the Aspinall Unit are being increased in response to the above average runoff forecast for Blue Mesa. The January 1 runoff forecast for Blue Mesa Reservoir predicts 750,000 ac-ft which is 104% of the normal April through July inflow. Snowpack in the Gunnison River basin is currently 129% of average. The final release rate of 800 cfs at Crystal Reservoir will be maintained until further notice.

As of today the Gunnison Tunnel is diverting no water and flows in the Gunnison River through the Black Canyon are around 750 cfs. After the change on Monday, Gunnison Tunnel diversions will still be zero and flows in the Black Canyon should be around 850 cfs. Current flow information is obtained from provisional data that may undergo revision subsequent to review.

This scheduled release change is subject to changes in river flows and weather conditions.

For questions or concerns regarding these operations contact:

Paul Davidson at (801) 524-3642 or e-mail at pdavidson@uc.usbr.gov
Rick Clayton at (801) 524-3710 or e-mail at rclayton@uc.usbr.gov