Hello:
Flaming Gorge releases are currently 8,600 cfs and are expected to remain at that level in order to decrease the possibility of higher releases later in the season. Fontenelle Reservoir releases are increasing from 4,600 cfs to 7,300 cfs this week, which will increase inflows into Flaming Gorge Reservoir. Snowmelt continues to be delayed because of cold temperatures in the Upper Green River Basin, which increases the potential for extremely high inflows later.
Yampa River flows are expected to remain low this week, but a warming trend next week may increase flows to levels close to those seen June 11 (~26,500 cfs). Mother Nature has been kind with the warming and cooling trend over the last few weeks. Yampa River low- and mid-elevation snow has melted in sections, which has meant lower peak flows out of the Yampa River. The peak flows could have been much higher than those we have seen. The forecasted temperatures remain uncertain and information will be communicated as we know more.
Flaming Gorge Reservoir currently has 527,000 acre-feet (af) of space (86 percent of live capacity). The June final forecast estimates 1.89 million acre-feet (maf) of water into Flaming Gorge during the April- July period. Total volume into Flaming Gorge to date is 707,000 af, leaving approximately 1.2 maf or 63 percent of the total volume (1.18 maf) expected between now and the end of July.
The snow/precipitation percent of average for today is:
Upper Green Basin Yampa River Basin SWE Precip SWE Precip 616% 128% 241% 139% SWE=snow water equivalent and represents the depth of water in the snowpack, if the snowpack were melted, expressed in inches. Precip=year-to-date precipitation represents the total precipitation, beginning October 1, found at selected SNOTEL sites in or near the basin compared to the average value for those sites on this day.
The Record of Decision wet hydrology targets have been met. Days at or above flow targets as measured at the USGS streamgage on the Green River at Jensen, Utah are shown below:
Days in 2011 at or above Green River at Jensen, Utah ROD Targets As of June 14, 2011 ROD Target ROD Target ROD Target ROD Target None 28 days 14 days 26,400 cfs >= 15,000 cfs >= 18,600 cfs >= 22,700 cfs Peak Flow to Date 37 days 29 days 16 days 32,100 cfs
Flaming Gorge information for the last five days is shown below.
Unreg Inflow Inflow Date Elev (ft) (cfs) (cfs) 06/09/11 6,026.56 8,894 10,714 06/10/11 6,026.75 10,414 12,746 06/11/11 6,026.75 7,174 9,568 06/12/11 6,026.77 9,044 10,697 06/13/11 6,026.75 8,262 10,026 Further information can be found here: http://www.usbr.gov/uc/water/rsvrs/ops/crsp_40_fgd.html
YAMPA RIVER AT DEERLODGE PARK http://www.cbrfc.noaa.gov/river/station/flowplot/flowplot.cgi?id=YDLC2
GREEN RIVER AT JENSEN FORECAST http://www.cbrfc.noaa.gov/river/station/flowplot/flowplot.cgi?JESU1
Heather Hermansen Hydraulic Engineer Bureau of Reclamation 125 South State Street, UC-436 SLC, UT 84138-1147 PH: 801-524-3883 [email protected]
Please note my email has changed to [email protected]