Here’s the release from Reclamation (Kara Lamb):
The Bureau of Reclamation is working with Pitkin County Emergency Management to manage high-water at Ruedi Reservoir, 216-miles west of Denver, after continued high temperatures accelerated snow melt runoff from area mountains.
Reclamation is working to maintain consistent flow-rates at Ruedi Dam by monitoring water over-topping the spillway and adjusting controlled releases. The agency’s goal is to keep releases around 750 cfs into the weekend to reduce the impacts to downstream communities.
“We’re working very closely with our partners and local communities to manage the sheer volume of water from snow melt runoff and precipitation that we’re currently experiencing in Colorado,” said Mike Collins, Reclamation’s Eastern Colorado Area Manager.
Melting snow is causing above-normal inflows to reservoirs and rivers across Colorado, and other Reclamation facilities are experiencing high-water conditions. In particular:
• Twin Lakes, south of Leadville, Colo., is releasing 1400, cfs to Lake Creek which flows into the Arkansas River.
• Green Mountain Reservoir is releasing 2400 cfs to the Lower Blue River, which flows into the Colorado River.Reclamation is keeping its managing partners and stakeholders informed. To receive additional information, please contact Kara Lamb at (970) 962-4326 or klamb@usbr.gov.