Aspinall Unit Overview

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1 Aspinall Unit Overview Dan Crabtree Erik Knight Sandi Caskey Jennifer Hamilton US Bureau of Reclamation Western Colorado Area Office Grand Junction, Colorado

2 Reclamation Service of 1902 In Early 1900 s irrigation projects were know as reclamation projects Irrigation would reclaim arid lands for human use President Roosevelt supported Reclamation movement Believed reclamation would permit homemaking Create homes for Americans on family farms Reclamation Service established in 1902 within USGS Reclamation Act required that: Nothing in this act shall be construed as affection or intended to affect or in any way interfere with the laws of any State or Territory relating to the control, appropriation, use, or distribution of water

4 Delta Colorado, 1904

6 Imperial Valley, CA 1901 Irrigation 500,000 Acres 2.6 million Ac-Ft Water Right

7 Hydraulic Mining

8 The Colorado River Basin

Colorado River Compact 1922 agreement among the seven states in the Colorado River basin. Divides the river basin into the upper basin and the lower basin.

9 Colorado River Compact 1922 agreement among the seven states in the Colorado River basin. Divides the river basin into the upper basin and the lower basin. Requires the upper basin states to not deplete the river flow below 75,000,000 acre-feet for any ten consecutive years. Upper Basin has to deliver an average of 7.5 million acre-feet each year. 1,500,000 acre-feet per year is allocated to Mexico. The lower basin can receive an additional 1,100,000 acre-feet per year.

Colorado River Storage Project After the Colorado River Compact, a study was done to determine how to best regulate the flow of the Colorado River to ensure compliance.

10 Colorado River Storage Project After the Colorado River Compact, a study was done to determine how to best regulate the flow of the Colorado River to ensure compliance. CRSP provides water storage, hydroelectric power, and flood control for participating states along the upper Colorado River. CRSP is made of four major units. Flaming Gorge Unit Aspinall Unit Navajo Unit Glen Canyon Unit Other than the four storage units, there are a total of 21 participating projects (16 of which have been completed).

11 Glen Canyon Flaming Gorge CRSP Storage Projects Navajo Dam Blue Mesa Dam

12 Gunnison Basin Map

The Aspinall Unit Made up of three dams Blue Mesa Dam

13 The Aspinall Unit Made up of three dams Blue Mesa Dam Morrow Point Dam Crystal Dam Originally named the Curecanti Unit. Name changed to the Aspinall Unit in 1980 to honor Colorado Congressman Wayne N. Aspinall. The three reservoirs have a combined live capacity of 964,065 acre-feet, and can produce enough electricity to support a community of 240,000.

Is the largest lake trout and Kokanee salmon fishery in the United States.

14 Blue Mesa The largest body of water entirely in Colorado. 20 miles long with 96 miles of shoreline. The surface area is 9,180 acres. Is the largest lake trout and Kokanee salmon fishery in the United States. Has a live capacity of 829,500 acre-feet. Water source is the Gunnison River. Over a million people visit Blue Mesa each year for recreation.

15 Blue Mesa Ground Breaking July 7, 1962 Left to Right Representative Wayne Aspinall Governor Stephen McNichols Senator John Carrol Reclamation Commissioner Floyd Dominy

Morrow Point Morrow Point Dam s primary purpose

It is a concrete double-arch dam, and was the

16 Morrow Point Morrow Point Dam s primary purpose is hydroelectric power generation. Has a live capacity of 117,025 acre-feet, and a surface area of 817 acres. It is a concrete double-arch dam, and was the first dam of its type built by Reclamation. Its water source is the Gunnison River.

17 Crystal Crystal dam s primary purpose is hydroelectric power generation. Has a live capacity of 17,540 acre-feet. Water source is the Gunnison River. When water is needed from the Aspinall unit, releases are adjusted at Crystal.

18 Power Plants Morrow Point

19 Endangered Fishes of the Colorado River Basin Colorado pikeminnow Ptychocheilus lucius Razorback sucker Xyrauchen texanus Humpback chub Gila cypha Bonytail Gila elegans

Hydroelectric Power Generation Authorized Purposes Aspinall Unit Environmental Impact Statement Five generators at three powerplants. Blue Mesa annually averages 264,329,000 kilowatt-hours.

This is enough energy to supply the annual electricity needs of about 64,000 households. Power is sold to municipalities, public utilities, and governmental agencies in WY, UT, CO, NM, AZ, and NV.

20 Hydroelectric Power Generation Authorized Purposes Aspinall Unit Environmental Impact Statement Five generators at three powerplants. Blue Mesa annually averages 264,329,000 kilowatt-hours. Morrow Point annually averages 343,450,000 kilowatt-hours. Crystal annually averages 167,771,000 kilowatt-hours. 800,000 megawatthours total. This is enough energy to supply the annual electricity needs of about 64,000 households. Power is sold to municipalities, public utilities, and governmental agencies in WY, UT, CO, NM, AZ, and NV. Deliver irrigation water to farms. Provide municipal and industrial water to communities. Regulate river flow. Provide for flood control and recreation. Provide storage and delivery of water for irrigation, municipal, industrial, and other beneficial purposes. Improve water quality. Improve conditions for fish and wildlife. Generate electric power. The EIS modifies the operations of the Aspinall Unit to provide sufficient releases of water at times, quantities, and duration necessary to avoid jeopardy to endangered fish species and adverse modification of their designated critical habitat while maintaining and continuing to meet authorized purposes of the Aspinall Unit.

21 Peak Q (cfs) Peak Flow Targets at Whitewater Peak flows will be made in an attempt to match the peak from the North Fork in order to maximize the potential of meeting a desired peak at Whitewater. Peak and duration is determined by Blue Mesa forecasted inflow cfs DRY Peak Flow Target at Whitewater MOD DRY AVG DRY AVG WET MOD WET WET Forecast BM Apr-Jul Inflow (thousand af)

22 Base Flow Targets at Whitewater Gage Drought Rules During Dry and Moderately Dry years, if Blue Mesa Reservoir content drops below 600,000 af, the Whitewater baseflow target is reduced from 1050 cfs to 900 cfs until Blue Mesa Reservoir content exceeds 600,000 af Flow recommendations came from a study done by the Fish and Wildlife Service. Table shows the base flow targets at Whitewater gage.

Park Water Right Black Canyon of the Gunnison 2009 Decree quantifying National Park reserved right. Settled through mediation with 300 objectors.

23 Park Water Right Black Canyon of the Gunnison 2009 Decree quantifying National Park reserved right. Settled through mediation with 300 objectors. Water right - 1 day peak flow, shoulder flows, and minimum flows based on forecasted inflow. Gives highest priority to flood control. Actual 24 Hr Peak 845 cfs 814 cfs May 1 Forecast 230 KAF

24 Inflow (cfs) Content (AF) Aspinall Operations April - September Blue Mesa Reservoir Comparison with Long Term Average Inflow 2012 Content 2012 Inflow avg Content avg

25 Apr-Jul streamflow % avg CBRFC Basic Forecast Methods Statistical regression Simulation modeling S Fork Rio Grande, Colo Snow Rainfall Heat Soil water Snow pack Runoff May 1 snowpack % avg Credit: Tom Pagano

26 Aspinall Operations

27 Time inflow is exceeded Aspinall Operations 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Blue Mesa Reservoir April - July Unregulated Inflow 408 DRY 519 AVERAGE WET MODERATELY WET WET MODERATELY DRY AVERAGE DRY Unregulated Inflow (1000 AF) 2002 = 156 Kaf 2011 = 893 Kaf 2012 = 206 Kaf Based on

28 Flow (cfs) Aspinall Operations 4500 Gunnison River - Black Canyon cfs Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Average

29 Flow (cfs) Aspinall Operations 9000 Gunnison Whitewater Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Average Baseflow Target

30 Pikeminnow at Redlands

Dallas Creek Project Primary facility is Ridgway Dam. Has a live capacity of 82,980 acre-feet. Its water source is the Uncompahgre River. It is CRSP participating. Irrigates 11,200 acres.

31 Dallas Creek Project Primary facility is Ridgway Dam. Has a live capacity of 82,980 acre-feet. Its water source is the Uncompahgre River. It is CRSP participating. Irrigates 11,200 acres. Livestock Crops such as alfalfa, meadow hay, pasture, small grains, pinto beans, malt barley, corn, onions, and some fruit. 28,100 acre-feet is available for municipal and industrial uses in Colona, Montrose, Olathe, Delta, and surrounding areas. Recreation opportunities. Aids in the reduction of groundwater overdraft.

32 Paonia Project Primary facility is Paonia Dam. It has a live capacity of 15,553 acre-feet. Its water source is Muddy Creek. Sedimentation problems CRSP participating Irrigates 15,300 acres. Dairy cows and beef cattle Livestock feed, apples, peaches, and cherries. Reduces flood dangers on the North Fork River. Provides recreation opportunities.

Uncompahgre Project Primary facility is Taylor Park Dam. Has a live capacity of 106,185 acre-feet. Its water source is the Taylor River. Not CRSP participating.

33 Uncompahgre Project Primary facility is Taylor Park Dam. Has a live capacity of 106,185 acre-feet. Its water source is the Taylor River. Not CRSP participating. Irrigates 76,297 acres. Alfalfa, wheat, corn, oats, potatoes, beans, barley, onions, and fruit. Free camping and picnic grounds. Provides recreation opportunities.

34 Colorado Projects

35 Ridgway Had total melt-out on 6/15, which is 12 days before average; however, snowpack had been down 5-10 since March 13 and it maintained.5 for nearly a month, during which time it s usually melting down from Ridgway Inflow Reached maximum pool elevation 6/9. The reservoir was at 92% of capacity, and 107% of average for that time of year Ridgway Storage I n f l o w i n c f s A F Year Average Year Average Capacity

36 1-Nov 1-Dec 1-Jan 1-Feb 1-Mar 1-Apr 1-May 1-Jun 1-Jul 1-Aug 1-Sep 1-Oct 1-Nov 1-Dec 1-Jan 1-Feb 1-Mar 1-Apr 1-May 1-Jun 1-Jul 1-Aug 1-Sep 1-Oct Paonia Paonia Inflow Paonia Storage I n f l o w i n c f s A F Year Average Year Average Capacity

37 1-Nov 1-Dec 1-Jan 1-Feb 1-Mar 1-Apr 1-May 1-Jun 1-Jul 1-Aug 1-Sep 1-Oct Taylor Park 900 Taylor Park Inflow Taylor Park Storage I n f l o w i n c f s A F Year Average Year Average Capacity

38 Questions? Sunset on Blue Mesa Reservoir by Adam Schallau Photography

Considerations for Modeling a Water Bank at the Aspinall Unit with Current Environmental Flows

Considerations for Modeling a Water Bank at the Aspinall Unit with Current Environmental Flows Blue Mesa Reservoir and Dam Draft Report Prepared for the Colorado River Program of The Nature Conservancy