Here’s a look at winter operations and Lake Pueblo, from Chris Woodka writing for the Pueblo Chieftain. From the article:
Lake Pueblo should fill up again this spring, but with a dwindling snowpack, there is not as much concern of spilling water as last year at this time…
[Roy] Vaughan projects Lake Pueblo could be at capacity by the end of March, as Reclamation moves water from Turquoise and Twin lakes to make room for imported water this year…
Early forecasts show there could be as much as 79,000 acre-feet of water moved through the Boustead Tunnel from the Fryingpan River collection system on the West Slope into Turquoise Lake. The projections could change, however, if snowpack slows. If it holds up, it would be the second-largest Fry-Ark run in a decade. Last year, nearly 90,000 acre-feet were imported, although early projections predicted 100,000. Reclamation will not make a call on water availability until at least May 1. As of the end of last week, Colorado snowpack was 112 percent of average, and about 120 percent in the Roaring Fork basin. The Arkansas River basin snowpack was reported at 118 percent by the Natural Resources Conservation Service. The snowpack levels have increased only slightly since mid-January and are moving closer to average. Lake Pueblo was 89 percent full at 228,000 acre-feet, but more water will be coming in at a steady rate. Reclamation already has moved 18,000 acre-feet of project water into Lake Pueblo, and anticipates bringing down another 25,000 acre-feet by April…
There are 17,000 acre-feet of carryover water from last year, and more than 38,000 acre-feet of water stored since Nov. 15. Another 10,000 acre-feet of winter water will be stored by March 15, when the program ends. There are more than 44,000 acre-feet of water stored in excess-capacity accounts, which could spill if the reservoir fills. Releases of carryover winter water by April 1, however, should create enough space in Lake Pueblo to accommodate the projected additions.
The U.S. Geological Survey report indicates Arkansas River and Fountain Creek stream flows are normal for this time of year. Levels at Wellsville, on the Arkansas River near Salida, were 400-500 cubic feet per second last week, 100 cfs Arkansas River through Pueblo and 300 cfs Avondale. Flows on Fountain Creek were about 100 cfs.