Tuesday, June 3, 2008

Colorado-Big Thompson update From email from Reclamation (Kara Lamb): I've gotten quite a few questions today about operations on the Colorado-Big Thompson Project because of the spring run-off. I thought it would be helpful to include all facilities in this update to show a "snapshot" of the entire project. Yes, it is true: run-off from mountain snow is peaking. Inflows into Lake Estes down the upper Big Thompson (which comes from mountains east of the Continental Divide) reached over 800 cfs late last night. That water is considered "native" flow and we pass it through the Estes reservoir on downstream. "Imported waters" are what we are bringing over from the west slope as part of the Colorado-Big Thompson Project. We use the C-BT imported project water to generate electricity at the hydro-powerplants and then to deliver to C-BT project water users. This water also fills the C-BT reservoirs. Last night, we responded to the peaking inflow at Estes by increasing our releases to the lower Big Thompson to about 585 cfs. Tonight, we expect even larger inflows, so we will be bumping up the release from Olympus Dam to the Lower Big T to 655 cfs. That change will happen around 2 a.m. tonight (June 3). Please be aware Wednesday morning and through the day (June 4) this higher flow will be in the Big Thompson. The water we are importing for the C-BT project is traveling, via tunnel, to power generation along the southern power arm of the project. Folks in and around the Pinewood Reservoir area might notice fluctuation in the reservoir as a result. It is currently at an elevation of 6566--about 15 feet down from completely full. After producing power, we are still pumping some water to Carter Reservoir. But, because water users are also taking water, the slight gain in water elevation might be too small to notice--today the gain in elevation was about half an inch. The reservoir is sitting at a water level elevation of 5722 feet. We are also running about 100 cfs to Horsetooth. Water use there has gone up and down over the last week. But, because we are running more water into that reservoir, the rate of drawn down has slowed. In fact, today, the water level elevation did not change. It stayed at 5406.80 all day. With the cooler weather anticipated to move in this evening, we are expecting to see that peaking run-off into Lake Estes to drop down a bit. Demands out of Horsetooth and Carter, and out of the Big Thompson River, might also slow down a little. Weather remains the driving factor on how much water moves through the C-BT project and how fast. If the temperatures heat up again, we can expect to see the elevations of the reservoirs start dropping slowly, but noticably, again. If the weather gets and stays cool, water elevations are more likely to even out, or have movement that is not noticeable without a gauge. Category: Colorado Water 6:48:11 PM     R.I.P. W. Keys III The Water Information Program: "John W. Keys III, a former Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner and longtime Boise resident, died Friday morning in a plane crash in Canyonlands National Park in Utah. Gary Kramer, 49, of Scottsdale, Ariz. also died in the crash. Keys, 66, a longtime pilot, was flying on a sightseeing trip over the park's Needles District, said San Juan County Sheriff Mike Lacy in a news release. Keys, now of Moab, stepped down as commissioner of the bureau in 2006 after a 40-year-career that included 18 years in Boise as Pacific Northwest director." Category: Colorado Water 6:40:18 PM     Aspinall Unit update From email from Reclamation (Dan Crabtree): "Reclamation has received several inquiries regarding Black Canyon flows, so we'd like to take this opportunity to clarify our short range operation plans for the Aspinall Unit. Reclamation is in the process of slowly ramping down releases from Blue Mesa and Morrow Point Reservoirs. However, since Crystal is still spilling, fluctuations in side-inflows cause corresponding fluctuations downstream. Consequently our estimation of flows in the Black Canyon and Gunnison Gorge are just that, estimations, based on our planned releases plus forecasted runoff from the tributaries minus Gunnison Tunnel Diversions. "Today flows in the Black Canyon are around 6,300 cfs. Our plan is to continue ramping down at a rate of 500 cfs per day through Friday June 6th, following which, flows should be around 4,000 cfs depending, again, on the side-inflows. As side-inflows continue to decline flows in the Black Canyon should stabilize in the 3,000 to 3,500 cfs range in the following weeks." Category: Colorado Water 6:24:25 PM     Alamosa scores $1 million from Colorado Governor Ritter presented the city of Alamosa with a $1 million check to help defray the costs of their salmonella outbreak, according to TheDenverChannel.com. They write: "Gov. Bill Ritter visited Alamosa Monday to present city and county officials with a ceremonial $1 million check to help pay for water-treatment costs stemming from the salmonella outbreak in March. The outbreak forced the town to abandon tap water for about two weeks while the water supply was cleaned. The outbreak killed one person and left 411 sick." Thanks to SLV Dweller for the link. Category: Colorado Water 6:23:35 PM     Basin roundtable meetings Don't forget to attend your local basin roundtable meeting next week. The schedule is not up yet on the IBCC website, as of this morning. SLV Dweller writes: "A meeting of the Rio Grande Interbasin Roundtable, formed under the Colorado Water for the 21st Century Act, will be held Tuesday, June 10, 2008 from 5:00 to 8:00 P.M. at the Adams State College Student Center in Alamosa." Category: Colorado Water 6:22:28 PM     Dolores River boating season The Durango Herald has the lowdown on the boating season down in the Dolores River Canyon. They write: This year's almost-completed Dolores River boating season has been the most successful in memory. The U.S. Bureau of Land Management's river ranger reports more kayakers, canoeists and rafters enjoying the river's remarkable canyons, forests and whitewater than any time in his 17 years on the river. A great deal of this year's success is owed to the Dolores Water Conservancy District and the commitment by its staff to accurate and timely updates about expected water releases out of McPhee Dam. Every Monday and Thursday, the district posted an update to its Web site outlining projected water releases for the next few days, along with a commitment to meet those promised releases to the greatest extent possible. The district is the critical player for Dolores River water levels because it contracts for delivery of the lion's share of water from McPhee Dam and Reservoir, which is operated by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. Category: Colorado Water 6:20:41 PM     Lake Pueblo: Inspection finds dead zebra mussels From The Pueblo Chieftain: "Dead zebra mussels were found Sunday on a boat coming into Lake Pueblo, marking the first time that any mussels have been found since Colorado State Parks began its inspection program a month ago...Zebra mussels breed at water temperatures of 50-54 degrees Fahrenheit, which have been recorded at Lake Pueblo for the past week, Henley said. 'The 50-degree mark is the trigger, and the Division of Wildlife is stepping up its monitoring,' Henley said. 'We think July and August will be the time we find something here.'" More Coyote Gulch coverage here. Category: Colorado Water 6:31:06 AM     Runoff and snowpack news From The Steamboat Pilot & Today: "The Yampa at the Fifth Street Bridge was flowing at 3,290 cubic feet per second at mid-afternoon Monday, well above the historic mean of 2,260 cfs for June 2." Here's the link to the USGS Water Watch website. As of this morning streams at or near the flood stage include the Encampment River, Slater Fork, Michigan River, Elk River, Williams Fork River, Keystone Gulch, Cross Creek, Arkansas River (near Leadville), Hunter Creek, Cimmaron River and Uncompahgre River. Be careful out there. More runoff news from The Aspen Times. From the article: Without a doubt, there is a massive snowpack remaining high in Colorado's mountains -- and, without a doubt, it is disappearing fast, at least up to about 10,000 feet... The Natural Resources Conservation Service, the federal agency that tracks snowpack totals, said the existing snowpack at Grizzly Reservoir -- at the 10,600 foot elevation east of Aspen -- had a snow-water equivalent of 4.2 inches Monday. That is a whopping 223 percent above average for June 2. Last year, the snowpack was already long gone by June 2 at that location. In fact, the snow melted out there by May 19. In 1995, it was a different story. The water equivalent in the snowpack on June 2 at Grizzly Reservoir was 22.80 inches -- easily the highest amount going back to at least 1981 (the earliest statistics available on the NRCS website)... This year, the snowpack in the Roaring Fork River basin is still 111 percent above average. The NRCS tracks snowpack at seven sites in the Roaring Fork basin. At the four below 10,000 feet in elevation, the snowpack is at or below average. It is well above average at the three sites above 10,400 feet in elevation. Schofield Pass has one of the highest snowpack levels remaining in Colorado. It's more than double the average snowpack for this time in the year, a sign that trips to Crested Butte will be interesting this year, no matter what backcountry route is selected. More coverage from The Rocky Mountain News. They write: A flood advisory was issued Monday for the Eagle River, where 19 rafters had to be rescued when three rafts capsized shortly before 1 p.m...The National Weather Service issued flood warnings for the Yampa and Elk rivers in northwest Colorado and the Arkansas River in the south. A flood watch persists for the East River above Gunnison and lesser flood advisories for myriad rivers and streams across the state...Yet, flood experts anxiously watch the Roaring Fork River, whose namesake valley's snowpack is 200 percent above normal. Other potential flood zones include 10 Mile Creek through Frisco and the Gunnison Valley. Runoff news from The Colorado Springs Gazette: Rivers in Colorado are running fast and high with melted snow, including the Arkansas, which is expected to spill its banks in Fremont County today. The river was at 8.99 feet Monday night in Cañon City and rising steadily. The National Weather Service issued a flood warning, saying the Arkansas would reach flood stage overnight Monday, cresting at 9.4 feet, enough to swamp a few low-lying areas... The river last reached 9.4 feet in June 1987, according to the Weather Service. There was no damage reported then. While this winter was mostly dry in Colorado Springs, the mountains - and particularly the upper Arkansas basin - had the most snow in a decade. Memorial Day weekend, snowpack was 160 percent of average in the basin... Average snow depth in the basin has dropped from 15 inches to 6.5 inches since Memorial Day, Gillespie said. The Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area on Sunday is- sued a high-water advisement for the Royal Gorge, The Numbers and Pine Creek Rapid, meaning commercial outfitters switch to other parts of the river, said recreationarea manager Rob White. The Royal Gorge advisory is issued when the Arkansas runs at 3,200 cubic feet per second. Monday afternoon, which was the hottest day of the year so far in the Pikes Peak region, the river was running at nearly 4,000... The Arkansas was forecast to peak Thursday, and to gradually drop as a cold front dips temperatures in the high country and slows the melting. Snowpack in the basin remains 130 percent of average for this time of year. The Weather Service has warned minor flooding could occur on the Colorado, Eagle and East rivers in western Colorado. From KREXTV.com: "Temperatures are rising and so are the rivers. Flood advisories are still in affect for the Colorado River and meteorologists say in some parts the river is rising up to the bank and there's even some low land flooding. The National Weather Service says they are keeping a close eye on the Colorado River and the Plateau Creek. The Colorado River should reach it's peak Wednesday or Thursday, but that may not be the last peak of the season. Other nearby areas that are being monitored are the Riverfront Trails and the Palisade River Bend Park. The National Weather Service warns you to be extra careful if you are traveling near any of the rivers." More coverage from The Cañon City Daily Record. They write: The high-water mark could equal the record crest in Cañon City, documented June 10, 1987. The NWS expects the Arkansas River to rise above flood stage by midmorning Tuesday and continue to rise to near 9.4 feet by early Wednesday evening. "This crest compares to a previous crest of 9.4 feet on June 10, 1987," the warning said. At 9 feet, minor overbank flooding occurs into low-lying areas along the river. No homes or other personal property should be affected. The flood warning is the most severe issued by the NWS and indicates flooding is occurring or will occur soon. By comparison, a flood watch cautions that flooding is possible... On Sunday, the Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area issued an advisement against commercial rafting through the Royal Gorge, as well as in the Numbers section of the river. The remainder of the river is not under advisement. A spokesman for the state park said the advisement is not binding on commercial rafters and does not affect private boaters. The advisement is issued when water through the Royal Gorge exceeds 3,200 cubic feet per second, and 2,400 CFS in the Numbers section. According to AHRA's Web site, [yesterday] at 9 a.m., the river was running at 3,570 through the Royal Gorge and 2,830 at Numbers. Most commercial rafting companies are abiding by the advisement and will not run those sections of the river until the water level has dropped. More runoff news from The Pueblo Chieftain. From the article: Snow is melting quickly and swelling the Arkansas River, prompting boating advisories in the most dangerous reaches. "We haven't closed anything," said Rob White, manager of the Arkansas River Headwaters Recreation Area. "What's important is to boat to the skill levels of the operator." Advisories were issued Sunday for the Numbers, north of Buena Vista, and the Royal Gorge, west of Canon City, as water levels rose to above 3,000 cubic feet per second - double the amount in the river a week earlier... Fremont County is approaching a minor flood stage, according to the National Weather Service. The Arkansas River is slightly below the 9-foot flood stage. The level is expected to crest at 9.4 feet by Wednesday and would overtop screens at the Canon City water intake and flood low-lying fields, but the river level would be about 4 feet below the level that could damage homes or businesses. "We have a few thousand sandbags, unfilled," Fremont County Commissioner Mike Stiehl said. "I think we're OK unless there's a big rain over the next week, which doesn't look likely from the forecast." Stiehl said if there is flooding, the county is most concerned about areas immediately downstream of Canon City and Florence, parks and some basements. There is still ample room to store all that water in dams above Pueblo. Anticipating a wet year with heavy runoff, the Bureau of Reclamation drew down Turquoise and Twin Lakes earlier this year. On Monday, Turquoise was less than half full, while Twin Lakes was about two-thirds full, according to Reclamation's Web site. The Fryingpan-Arkansas Project, which brings water from the Fryingpan River into the Arkansas River basin through the Boustead Tunnel at Turquoise Lake, should yield more than 100,000 acre-feet - about 32.6 billion gallons - this year, said Roy Vaughan, chief of Reclamation's Pueblo office. Of that, 83,000 acre-feet have been leased to cities and farmers by the Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District, along with 17,000 acre-feet of agricultural return flows... In the last couple of weeks, more than 13,000 acre-feet have moved through the Boustead Tunnel, according to Reclamation estimates. This week, gates were cranked fully open, allowing about 1,800 acre-feet per day to run through... Despite the meltdown that accelerated over the weekend, the state snowpack is still relatively robust, at 106 percent of average. The Arkansas River basin was at 123 percent of average on Monday, while the Colorado River basin, from which water is imported, was at 138 percent of average. Arkansas River water has been flowing faster out of Pueblo Dam than it is flowing in. In March, the dam was nearing full capacity of 256,949 acre-feet (with 93,000 acre-feet of flood cushion). By Monday, it had been drawn down to 225,915 acre-feet, about 88 percent of the usable capacity... Flows in Fountain Creek, meanwhile, are trickling along at about 30 cfs, only about half of the average flow for this time of year, because of lack of precipitation and increased seasonal water use - landscape watering - in El Paso County and Colorado Springs. Category: Colorado Water 5:50:31 AM

© Copyright 2008 John Orr. Last update: 7/1/08; 7:55:27 AM.