From email from Reclamation (Dan Crabtree):
Reclamation’s spring operation allowing the Black Canyon Water Right 24 Hour Peak Flow Target to be met is complete. Starting on May 10th releases ramped up at about 500 cfs per day until reaching a peak release of 5,100 cfs. The Peak Flow Target under the hydrologic conditions identified in the May 1st April through July runoff (560,000 af) forecast into Blue Mesa Reservoir was 3,883 cfs. The Gunnison River measuring gage located below the Gunnison Tunnel (diverting 1,000 cfs) measured a daily peak flow of 4,190 cfs range on May 18th.
Following the 24 hour peak, releases from Crystal were reduced by about 400 cfs per day through two changes per day. As of today, the down-ramping is complete and flows in the Canyon and Gorge are about 650 cfs which is less than the 700 – 800 cfs range previously mentioned in our plans. Due to the hot winds and dryer weather Reclamation plans to maintain these lower flows for the present time. Please contact Dan Crabtree at 970-248-0652 or reply to this email with questions or comments.
More Aspinall Unit coverage here.