Aspinall Unit Operations Meeting 

January 18, 2018 1:00 PM 

Background: A Record of Decision for the Aspinall Unit Operations Environmental Impact 

Statement was signed on May 3, 2012. The EIS modifies the operations of the Aspinall Unit to 

provide sufficient releases of water at times, quantities, and durations 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. Meetings 

regarding the operations of the Aspinall Unit are open to stakeholders, and take place triannually, with meetings typically occurring in January, April, and August of each year. 

Aspinall Unit Operations – Ryan Christianson (USBR) 

Operations Past and Present: From September 2017 to mid-January 2018, Blue Mesa content 

dropped 229,000 acre-feet (AF). Blue Mesa content is currently 573,000 AF. During this same 

time period, Gunnison River flows at Whitewater have consistently remained above the 1,050 cfs 

target. As of January 16, 2018, the conditions of reservoirs in the basin are as follows: 

Reservoir % of Capacity 

Paonia 16% 

Taylor Park 71% 

Crystal 86% 

Morrow Point 92% 

Blue Mesa 69% 

Ridgway 73% 

Silver Jack 22% 

Snow Conditions: October 2017 was mostly dry, with the monthly precipitation in the Gunnison 

Basin around 70% of average. November 2017 was still dry, and December 2017 ended up 

being one of the driest Decembers on record for many Snotel sites in the Gunnison Basin. The 

first half of January saw snow accumulation continue to fall behind the historical average rate of 

accumulation. As of January 17, 2018, the Gunnison Basin’s snow water equivalent is at 46% of 

normal. The situation is slightly better in the headwaters of the Gunnison River basin upstream 

of Blue Mesa Reservoir where snow conditions are currently 67% of normal. 

Runoff Forecasts and Future Operations: The January 1st Blue Mesa Forecasted April-July 

Inflow was 435,000 acre-feet. By mid-January, this forecast decreased to 420,000 acre-feet. 

This forecast would categorize 2018 as a Moderately Dry year. If the forecast were to remain 

unchanged, a Moderately Dry year would result in a desired Whitewater peak of 4,180 cfs. 

There would be no requirement for duration days at peak flow or half bankfull flow. Assuming 

the forecast doesn’t change for the May 1st forecast, the Black Canyon Peak Flow would be 

1,750 cfs, with May 1st to July 25th shoulder flows of 300 cfs. Baseflow targets at Whitewater 

would be 1,050 throughout the remainder of winter. 

Under the current runoff forecast scenario Blue Mesa Reservoir is projected to fill to an elevation 

of 7501.4 feet with a maximum content of 673,000 AF. 
2018 Weather Outlook – Aldis Strautins (NWS) 

Winter weather conditions in 2017-2018 have been the opposite of what was experienced last 

year. We have moved out of the weak La Nina pattern towards Neutral conditions this winter. 

The probabilities favor a return to Neutral conditions during early 2018. The second half of 

January is forecast to experience closer to average precipitation conditions which would be an 

improvement over what we have seen so far. There is a fairly good chance for wetter conditions 

to arrive in February. The spring months are currently projected to have better chances for drier 

than average conditions. 

The drought monitor shows that drought conditions have expanded across western Colorado over 

the fall and winter months of 2017. This drought expansion pattern is spread across all of the 4 

corner states of the southwest. 

Crystal Tailrace Bathymetric Survey 

A bathymetric survey was conducted at the tailrace of Crystal Reservoir to determine if spills 

over Crystal Dam were scouring out the plunge pool. The survey is required after each 

significant spill event. The survey showed significant sediment accumulation within the stilling 

pool. It is not clear where the source of this material would come from although it is suspected to 

be originating from erosion of the east canyon wall. Even with this finding, comparisons with the 

2014 survey do not show any significant changes in the stilling basin bathymetry. 

Special Flow Requests and Discussion 

None 

Reports of Agencies and Organizations 

DWR: Water users coming up with ways to deal with drought. North Fork is really hurting. Lots 

of work anticipated for water commissioners. 

USGS: New gages in the Elk Creek, Crested Butte area in conjunction with EPA (seasonal 

gage). Gunnison R below Tomichi gage installed last fall is fully operational. 

BLM: Recreation use below North Fork confluence has doubled/tripled. 

FMC: Trying to bring up reservoir elevation/storage. 10-15 cfs inflow into Paonia. 

Center for Snow and Avalanche Studies: 2 feet of snow at Red Mtn Pass, concerns with dry soil 

moisture conditions and dust 
UVWUA: Lots of construction going on. Ed Suppes retiring this year. 

Tri-County: Ridgway Reservoir is lower this time of year compared with past conditions. Was 

6,000 AF higher in 2002 than today. Cutting releases to 50 cfs and maybe to minimum 

streamflow level of 30 cfs. 

NPS: ANS inspections this January. 

WAPA: Energy prices are average right now. Expect they will increase when cold weather 

arrives. 

TU: Doing their best to conserve water. Working on system conservation projects. Would be 

supportive of lower flows through the Black Canyon, critical period is late April into May. 

CWCB: Board meeting next week, accepting Grant applications, talking drought contingency 

planning. Lake Powell forecast to drop further. Severance tax is negative this year, programs will 

be cut or reduced. 

BOR Curecanti Field Office: Blue Mesa stilling basin dewatering will be required for penstock 

work. Will need to use spillway to release water. 

NEXT MEETING: Tuesday, April 17, 2018 @ 1:00 PM at the WCAO Reclamation Office 

in Grand Junction, CO. 

January 17, 2018 Aspinall Operation Meeting Attendance

*indicates person attended meeting in person or by phone

Argonne National Laboratory......................................John Hayse, Kirk Lagory 

Black Canyon Anglers............................... Derek Kehmeier, Richard Dudginski 

Bureau of Land Management.............Rooster Barnhart, Edd Franz*, Wanda Lassiter, 

Chris Smith, Jason Young, Kevin Kobe, Katy Smith 

Bureau of Reclamation........Ed Warner*, Ted Dunn, Ryan Christianson*, Jenny Ward, Paul 

Davidson, Justyn Liff, Erik Knight, Rick Clayton*, Grant Watson*, Larry Lingerfelt*, Randy 

Kramer*, David Speas, David Klein, Dale Carpenter, Lesley McWhirter, Vern Harrell, Jed 

Parker, Jesus Hernandez, Amanda Ewing, Wayne Holland* 

CSAS-CODOS......................................................Jeff Derry*, Chris Landry* 

City of Grand Junction........................................Terry Franklin, Greg Trainor 

Club 20.............................................................................Reeves Brown 

Colorado Department of Agriculture.............................................Jim Miller 

Colorado Emergency Management........................................Drew Petersen 

Colorado Mesa University....................................................Hannah Holm 

Colorado River Energy Distributors..........................................Leslie James 

Colorado River District...Dave Kanzer, Jim Pokrandt, Eric Kuhn, Sonja Chavez* 

Colorado State University.....................................................Brett Johnson 
Colorado Division of Water Resources....Pat McDermott, Bob Hurford*, Scott King, 

Richard Rozman, Luke Reschke, Jason Ullmann 

Colorado Parks and Wildlife....Jay Skinner, John Alves, Dan Brauch, Dan Kowalski, 

David Graf, Eric Gardunio 

Colorado Water Conservation Board...Michelle Garrison*, Ray Alvarado, Steve Miller , 

Karen Kwon 

Daily Sentinel..................................................................Dave Buchanan* 

Delta County Independent...................................................Bob Borcharcht 

Delta County Commissioners........................... 

Delta County.............................................. 

City of Delta.....................................................Betsy Suerth*, Glen Black Delta 

County Emergency Management..........................................Jeff Wright 

Dolores WCD..........................................................................Ken Curtis 

Fire Mountain Canal Co.........................................................Steve Fletcher* 

Fish and Wildlife Service.........................................Dale Ryden, , DarekElverud 

Gunnison Country Times.....................................................Michelle Burkhart 

Gunnison Basin POWER......................................... Butch Clark, Ramon Reed 

Gunnison County Commissioners...................................... 

Gunnison River Expeditions.......................................................Al DeGrange 

High Country Citizens Alliance.......Steve Glazer, Jennifer Boch, Wendy McDermott 

Interior Solicitor....................................................John Bezdek, Peter Fahmy 

City of Montrose...........................................Stephen Alcorn, Bob Nicholson 

Montrose Daily Press.................................................Katharhynn Heidelberg 

National Drought Mitigation Center...................................Donna Woudenberg 

NOAA......................Andrea Ray, Robert Webb, Klaus Wolter, Brad Udall, Kevin

Werner, Chad McNutt, Tracy Cox, Brenda Alcorn, John Lhotak, Greg Smith 

National Park Service.................Michael Dale*, Kim Hartwig, Christine Landrum, Mark 

Wondzell, Melissa Trammell, Jenny Rebenack, Rob Billerbeck, Bruce Noble, Gene Seagle 

National Weather Service................................. Aldis Strautins*, Megan Stackhouse 

NRCS..................Brian Domonkos, Lexi Landers, Karl Wetlaufer, Mage Hultstrand 

North Fork Water Conservancy................................................Tom Alvey 

Precision Water Resources Engineering..................................Mike Coleman 

Project 7............................................................................Adam Turner 

Recovery Program.......................................................Tom Pitts, Tom Chart 

Redland Water and Power............................................................. 

Ridgway Guide Service......................................Tim Paterson, Matt McCannel 

Tri-County Water......Mike Berry*, Teddy Early*,Kathleen Margetts, Tony Mitchell* 

Trout Unlimited..................... Marshall Pendergrass*, Cary Denison* Drew Peternell, 

John Trammell, Jesse Kruthaupt* 

UVWUA...Ed Suppes*, Steve Anderson*, Steve Shea, Dennis Veo*, Michelle Decker, 

Tim Barrientos* 

Upper Gunnison River Water.............John McClow, Frank Kugel, Ken Spann 

USGS...............................Ken Leib, Bob Jenkins, Steve Anders*, Trisha Solberg, 

Bryan Moore, Bob Kimbrough 

Xcel Energy...................................................................Kelly Flenniken 
Western Area Power.....Clayton Palmer, Jeff Ackerman, Jerry Wilhite, Tim Vigil, Tanya 

Newman, Chrystal Dean*, Tyson Taylor, Steve Johnson, Rachel Grubbs