From email from Reclamation (Dan Crabtree):
Click here for a summary of the September 2, 2010 meeting to coordinate Reclamation’s operation of the Aspinall Unit. Highlights of the operation meeting include:
– Actual Blue Mesa April through July inflow was 494,000 af, representing a moderately dry year. On May 1st, the April through July inflow to Blue Mesa was forecasted at 560,000 af or approximately 78 percent of the 30 year average. The 30-year average is 720,000 af.
– Based on the May 1 forecast, 3,883 cfs was the Black Canyon water right 24 hour peak target. A peak flow of 4,190 cfs was provided, exceeding the Black Canyon water right.
– Blue Mesa did not fill this year with live storage reaching a maximum of approximately 736,000 af.
– On August 19, a significant flash flood hit the Gunnison Gorge moving silt and boulders into the river and damaging trails and campsites.
If you have any suggestions on improving the operation meetings or summaries, please let us know. The next operation meeting will be on Thursday, January 20 at the Hampton Inn, 1980 North Townsend, next to the Montrose Airport. If you have any questions, please call me [Dan Crabtree] at 970 248-0652 or … email (DCrabtree@usbr.gov).
More Aspinall Unit coverage here.