Navajo Reservoir OperationsCRFS Technical CommitteeNovember 8, 2011Fall Technical Meeting

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NAVAJO RESERVOIR OPERATIONS

Change-in-Storage (cfs) Total Release (cfs) Inflow (cfs) River Release (cfs) WS Elevation

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AVAILABLE WATER (April) PATHMin Prob: 376,960 af #2Most Prob: 500,429 af #2Max Prob: 643,061 af #2

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Navajo Reservoir 2011 Spring Peak Release Schedule(Final)

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USGS Mean Daily Streamflows - San Juan and Animas River Stations

San Juan at Farmington San Juan at Shiprock San Juan at Four Corners San Juan at BluffAnimas@Farmington San Juan at Archuleta (Navajo) 7-Day Moving Mean

Chasing the Target Baseflow• Temporary increases to 650 cfs were required in mid

April and early May due to late runoff and dry conditions • Base releases remained at 500 cfs until August 9th

• Late runoff kept the river within Target Base Flow range without additional releases later than usual

• Increased release to 800 cfs on August 9th, up to 900 cfs on August 17th

• Returned to 500 cfs base release on October 6th.• Reduced release to 350 cfs for trout habitat

improvements (should be complete by December)

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USGS Mean Daily Streamflow San Juan River Stations

SJ Farmington SJ Shiprock SJ Four Corners SJ Bluff Animas @ Farmington SJ Archuleta 7-Day Moving Mean

Navajo Current Conditions(as of 11/7/2011)

Elevation = 6058.4 (97% of Average)Storage = 1,327,727 af (78% Full)Inflow = 485 cfsRelease = 350 cfsNIIP = 6 cfs (Not Diverting)San Juan-Chama Diversion = 16 cfs

Western Colorado Area Office Contact:

Ryan Christianson970-385-6590, rchristianson@usbr.gov

Forecasting Challenges

• Over forecasting in the winter/early spring• Animas @ Farmington forecast point

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WY2011 CBRFC - Navajo Reservoir Most, Max and Min Inflow Forecasts (acre-feet)

Max Most Min 30 Yr Avg Inf low 2011 Observed Linear (Most)

Actual Inflow – 576,275 af (78% of Average)

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WY2010 CBRFC - Navajo Reservoir Most, Max and Min Inflow Forecasts (acre-feet)

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WY2009 CBRFC - Navajo Reservoir Most, Max and Min Inflow Forecasts (acre-feet)

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2007 CBRFC - Navajo Reservoir Most, Maximum and Minimum Modified Unregulated Inflow Forecasts (ac-ft)

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2008 CBRFC - Navajo Reservoir Most, Maximum and Minimum Modified Unregulated Inflow Forecasts (ac-ft)

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