Aspinall Project Notices

Project Notices

BUREAU OF RECLAMATION 

ASPINALL UNIT OPERATIONS UPDATE 

December 14, 2023 

As of December 10, 2023, releases from Crystal Dam are approximately 650 cfs. Flows of the Gunnison River in the Black Canyon are being maintained at about 620 cfs while the Gunnison Tunnel is intermittently diverting to fill Fairview Reservoir about 1 day every 2 weeks. Flows in the Whitewater Reach of the Gunnison River are about 1,260 cfs.

The unregulated inflow volume in November to Blue Mesa was 27,900 af (93 percent of average). Unregulated Inflow volumes forecasted for Blue Mesa for the next three months (November, December, January) are projected to be: 25,000 af (100 percent of average), 23,000 af (96 percent of average) and 21,000 af (95 percent of average), respectively. The December 24-Month Study will be reflective of these new forecasted inflows.

The forecasted 2024 water year unregulated inflow volume to Blue Mesa is projected to be 777,000 af (86 percent of average). The water supply period (April-July) for 2024 is forecasted currently for an unregulated inflow volume of to be 535,000 af of unregulated inflow (84 percent of average).

The Aspinall Unit Operations Group is an open public forum for information exchange between Reclamation and the stakeholders of the Aspinall Unit. The public is encouraged to attend and comments on the operations and plans presented by Reclamation at these meetings. Meeting notes from past working Group meetings are posted on the Operations Group webpage. For more information on this group and these meetings please contact Erik Knight in the Grand Junction Area Office at (970) 248-0629.

The next Operations Group meeting will be held January 18, 2024 at 1:00 p.m., in person in Montrose Colorado. This will be an in-person meeting with an option for remote participation. Contact Erik Knight in the Grand Junction Area Office at (970) 248-0629 to get more information regarding this Operation Group meeting.

 Updated 12/14/2023 by Rick Clayton (Aspinall Operations)

 

 

 

 

 

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Contact

Please contact the Operations Group via e-mail at ResourceMgr@usbr.gov for additional information.