Western Colorado Area Office

This meeting was held in Farmington, New Mexico at the Civic Center. The meeting minutes, as mailed, as well as the meeting handouts are available in the archives. Meeting attendance is shown on the archived minutes.

The purpose of these meetings-- held in January, April, and August-- is to gather input for determining upcoming operations for Navajo Reservoir. This input is used in Reclamation’s development of an overall 24-month study for operation of Reclamation projects in the Upper Colorado River Basin, which includes plans for Glen Canyon, Flaming Gorge, Aspinal Unit and Navajo. Input from individuals, organizations, and agencies along with other factors such as weather, water rights, endangered species requirements, flood control, hydro power, recreation, fish and wildlife management and reservoir levels, will be considered in the development of these reservoir operation plans. In addition, the meetings are used to coordinate activities and exchange information among agencies, water users, and other interested parties concerning the San Juan River and Navajo Reservoir.

The total regulated inflow for the 2008 April-July season was recorded at 750,319 acre-feet, or about 115% of average runoff. The reservoir had a seasonal peak elevation of 6,066.84 feet on May 25, 2008.

The San Juan Basin snowpack (SNOTEL) in early February was at 159% of average, and the March April through July inflow forecast was for an estimated 1,400,000 acre-feet into Navajo Reservoir . Navajo Reservoir began releasing higher than average releases of 3,000 cfs on February 11, 2008 for flood control. Releases were increased to 4,000 cfs on Monday, March 10th to account for another increase in the inflow forecast. The releases were decreased March 24th to 3,400 cfs to accommodate an inspection of the auxiliary outlet works. Releases continued at 4,000 cfs on March 25th. The release was held at 4,000 cfs until April 7th when it was decreased to 1,600 cfs for an inspection of the auxiliary outlet works. On April 8th the release was resumed at 2,200 cfs due to a drop in the inflow forecast. As the forecasted inflow continued to decrease, the release was dropped to 1,000 cfs on May 12th. On May 19th the Spring Peak Release began with a rampup to 5,000 cfs on May 28th. The release remained at 5,000 cfs until June 19th, with exception of a one day auxiliary outlet inspection on June 10th. The ramp down continued until reaching 500 cfs on June 25th. No problems were identified with the auxiliary or main outlet works inspections, other than normal wear and tear.

Releases have remained at 500 cfs since June 25th, but were increased to 750 cfs on August 19th in order to meet the target base flow in the critical habitat area. Releases will be adjusted as necessary in order to meet the target base flow requirements.

The 2009 Ensemble Streamflow Prediction (ESP) forecast for unregulated inflow is predicted to be near average. However, this is very preliminary and will change as updated forecasts become available.

Based on this preliminary prediction, base releases will be 500 cfs this winter.

Assuming this average inflow, a one to two week spring peak release of 5,000 cfs would be made.

No water shortages are anticipated for Water Year 2009.

New Mexico State Engineer's Office is continuing to oversee the water measurement devices throughout the basin.

Navajo Agricultural Products Industry (NAPI) was awarded a grant under Reclamation’s Water 2025 program. The cost-share funding will be used to install a canal gate operating system and an irrigation scheduling program to decrease annual canal spills.

Fish & Wildlife Service indicated that results of this year's spring peak release should be available in February or March 2009.

New Mexico Game & Fish asked what the consequences of a dry fall and early winter might be in regard to reservoir operations. Reclamation replied that if that happened, there might be a need to reduce the releases to something less than the 500 cfs rate that is anticipated this winter.

A citizen questioned the science behind how the impacts to the trout fishery were determined in the Navajo Reservoir Operations Environmental Impact Statement.

A citizen questioned why some of the spring release water was not held back to use to supplement the flows in the summer. Reclamation replied that due to the reservoir being higher than average coming into the spring runoff, coupled with the forecasted inflow amount, it was necessary to pre-release water in order to avoid spilling the reservoir. Having higher releases in the summer to supplement the flows could cause the target base flow to not be met and generally goes against the concept of the Flow Recommendations which is to operate the reservoir in a manner which better mimics the natural, pre-dam hydrograph – big flows in the spring followed by lower base flows in the non-spring months.

Scheduled for 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 26, 2009 at the Civic Center in Farmington, New Mexico (200 West Arrington Street).

Meeting Minutes (Portable Document Format (PDF)): View these minutes as mailed (includes attendance list)