Bureau of Reclamation
News Release Upper Colorado Region
Salt Lake City, Utah Loveless (801) 524-5403 For Release April 13, 1984
Colorado River Basin Main Stem Reservoirs are Prepared for Runoff
The main stem reservoirs of the Colorado River Basin are as low as they
will be this year in preparation for increased spring inflows, it was announced
by Upper Colorado Regional Director Clifford Barrett of the Bureau of
Reclamation.
While spring storms have increased mountain snowpack in the Wasatch and
Uinta Mountains, near normal precipitation occurred in western Colorado.
The April forecast for the Colorado River Basin has been nudged up to 151
percent of normal from March's 150 percent.
The runoff prediction above Lake Powell for the period April through
July 1984, is for a total volume of 11.5 mil.lion acre-feet, 3.1 million
acre-feet less than last year's record volume.
Lake Powell has been lowered approximately 27 feet from its full elevation
of 3,700 feet. This operation has created sufficient reservoir space t o
accommodate the runoff and minimize any need to use the spillways, which
are still being repaired.
"The left spillway is expected to be completed by late May to mid-June ,
and the right one by the end of July," Barrett said. "However, the spillway s
are not expected to be needed this year . "
Reclamation's releases through the Glen Canyon Powerplant, located on
the Utah-Arizona border, were about 25,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) through
March. In April, releases were increased to about 28,000 cfs and will remai n
at that level through July unless the forecast changes significantly. Colorado River Basin Reservoirs, cont.
Flaming Gorge Reservoir, on the Utah-Wyoming border, has been lowered about 18 feet in preparation for the forecasted runoff. Releases from Flaming
Gorge will be near 4,000 cfs through June. The reservoir will be allowed to rise to an elevation of 6, 035 feet--5 feet below peak--near the end of
June or early July.
Blue Mesa Reservoir, in west-central Colorado, has been lowered 85 feet.
Runoff forecast above Blue Mesa is about 157 percent of normal. Releases from Blue Mesa Dam will remain at about 2,500 cfs during April and will be reduced slightly in May and June. Releases from Crystal and Morrow Point
Dams will be higher than at Blue Mesa because tributary inflow will increase as the snow begins to melt.
Navajo Reservoir in northwestern New Mexico, has been lowered 27 feet.
Runoff above Navajo Reservoir is forecast to be about normal. Releases from
Navajo Dam are expected to remain at 1,500 cfs through May.