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 annually 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.

Beginning August 19, 2008, the release was increased from 500 cfs to 700 cfs to meet target base flows in the critical habitat area. On August 26th, the release was increased to 900 cfs until September 2nd, when it was reduced back to 700 cfs. After another dry period, the release was increased to 800 cfs until September 23rd, when it was reduced to 700 cfs and then back to 500 cfs on October 7th, where it has remained to date.

The fall 2008 precipitation pattern was very similar to what was observed during the same time period in 2007. Precipitation in October and November was below average in the basin (< 89% of average). The month of December had greater than 150% of average precipitation.

Snowpack for the month of December in the San Juan Basin was greater than 150 percent of average. As of January 26, 2009, the basin snowpack was at 123 percent of average with a snow water equivalent (SWE) of 16.1 inches.

Inflow into Navajo Reservoir has been below average for the months of October through January.

The most probable April-July 2009 inflow, based on the mid-January forecast, is 900,000 acre-feet, which corresponds to 117 percent of the 30 year average. The minimum probable and maximum probable April-July inflow forecasts are 540,000 acre-feet (70% of average) and 1,390,000 acre-feet (180% of average), respectively. Each of these forecasts is less than the mid-January forecasts for 2008, and is comparable to the January forecasts of 2004 and 2005. The year 2004 had actual inflow significantly less than what was forecasted in January 2004, and 2005 had actual inflow greater than what was forecasted in January 2005.

For WY2009, the reservoir is at a more manageable elevation (than in 2008) to handle variable conditions and large fluctuations in the forecast.

Under the current most probable inflow forecast, the maximum spring peak release hydrograph (5,000 cfs for 21 days), as identified in the San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program (SJRIP) flow recommendations, would be implemented. The ramp up would begin in the last part of April. However, this is very preliminary and as updated forecasts become available, the spring peak release schedule may change. The current release of 500 cfs is scheduled to continue until the beginning of the spring peak release.

Only under the maximum probable forecast would additional releases be required in conjunction with the maximum hydrograph, and at this point, this is very unlikely to occur. Under the minimum probable forecast, there would not be a spring peak release, which is equally unlikely to occur.

Our operation models indicate that, based on the inflow forecasts, fluctuations in the reservoir elevation should remain relatively steady compared to past years. Under the most probable forecast, an increase of approximately 10 feet may be expected in the early spring, prior to the spring peak release, when inflow increases significantly.

Using the current most probable forecast, the San Juan River downstream of Farmington is expected to peak near 8,000 cfs near the end of May or first of June. This estimate is based on models using comparable historical years and the current forecast and is likely to change.

The reservoir elevation on January 26, 2009 was 6,053.46 feet which corresponds to approximately 1,266,774 acre-feet of storage which was 94% percent of the 30-year average. The release to the river during December 2008 was 500 cfs.

An overview of the conditions of nearby reservoirs was given, including a brief construction update of the Animas-La Plata Project.

Outlet works inspections will continue this year (similar to last year) when releases are greater than 3,400 cfs. Under the most probable forecast, this would require one auxiliary outlet works inspection toward the middle of the 21-day 5,000 cfs release, which would cut the release to 3,400 cfs for one day.

The stilling basin is scheduled to be mucked out during 2009. Last year, divers after inspecting the stilling basin, recommended it be cleaned out of excess debris. The bolts on the penstocks are scheduled to be replaced sometime around 2010.

Colorado Division of Water Resources – The Division has relocated to the Technical Center at 160 Rock Point Drive, near the Forest Service building in Durango, CO.

Bloomfield Irrigation District – all their canals have been cleaned

New Mexico State Engineer's Office - Monitoring of diversions will occur throughout the irrigation season.

Navajo Nation – The Navajo Nation Municipal Pipeline, a feature of the Animas-La Plata Project, is currently being constructed.

Navajo Agricultural Products Industry (NAPI) has been performing maintenance on the NIIP headwork’s gates and anticipates being completed in March.

Colorado State Parks – will be conducting watercraft inspection and decontamination procedures as a preventive measure in the spread of the highly adaptive invasive species of zebra and quagga mussels.  At present there are few, if any, proven control methods to destroy the mussels.  Several reservoirs in Colorado have tested positive for mussels.

New Mexico State Parks – concerned about the State cutting funds and positions due to the economic crises.  At this point, watercrafts will not be checked for mussel species before entering the lake in New Mexico.

The Hammond Project – will start irrigation season on April 15th.

Concerned Citizen – asked how the evaporation rates were composed.  Answer:  The daily evaporation values are derived from previously collected field data by calculating those values using coefficients.  Also, he wanted to know if the inflow to the Animas-La Plata (ALP) Ridges Basin Dam will have an affect on our ability to meet the Flow Recommendations with releases from Navajo Reservoir.  Answer:  There will need to be some level of coordination between the operation of Navajo Reservoir and the ALP to ensure that the target base flow is met, however, it remains to be seen what affects the operation of ALP will have on the daily operations of the Navajo Reservoir. 

Scheduled for 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 28, 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)