From email from Reclamation (Dan Crabtree):
The most recent Colorado Basin River Forecast Center April through July runoff forecast is 495,000 ac-ft., down 25,000 ac-ft from the July 1st forecast. As dry as things have been, the final number is more likely to end up around 487,000 ac-ft. (Remember, the May 1st forecast was 560,000 ac-ft). In order to maintain storage and extend decent flows through the summer, releases from the Aspinall Unit will be reduced by 50 cfs tomorrow, July 22nd. Flows in the Black Canyon and Gunnison Gorge will then be about 600 cfs and, depending on hydrology, will be maintained through September. Flows will be further reduced to 500 cfs sometime in October and carry through December. At this time, Reclamation projects an end of December Blue Mesa elevation of 7488.6, which is 1.4 feet below the normal December target. Please contact Dan Crabtree at 970-248-0652 or reply to this email with questions.
As a reminder, the next Aspinall Operations Meeting will be held on Thursday, September 2nd in the Elk Creek Visitor Center on Blue Mesa Reservoir, starting at 1:00 p.m. We will be discussing past and future operations, as well as other activities within the Gunnison Basin.
More Aspinall Unit coverage here.