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# Upper Colorado Region

Encompassing all or parts of Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Utah and Wyoming

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# Navajo Reservoir

*****Notices for the latest release changes are posted here.*********

*****Road closure updates for Navajo Dam drilling will be updated here as information is available. Also please check closure information through NMDOT.*****

 

**Current Status**

Last Updated: April 9th, 2024

***Navajo Reservoir -***April 8th, the daily average release rate from Navajo Dam was 500 cfs  while reservoir inflow was averaging 561 cfs. The water surface elevation was 6041.23  feet above sea level. At this elevation the live storage is 1.07 maf (65  percent of live storage capacity) and the active storage is 0.448 maf (44  percent of active storage capacity). Diversions to Cutter Reservoir for the  Navajo Indian Irrigation Project (NIIP) and the Navajo Gallup Water Supply  Project (NGWSP) were 284 cfs. The San Juan-Chama project was diverting 54 cfs  from the basin above Navajo Reservoir.
Releases from Navajo Dam are made for authorized  purposes of the Navajo Unit and are pursuant to the Record of Decision for the  Navajo Reservoir Operations. Releases target the San Juan River Recovery  Implementation Program's (SJRIP) recommended downstream baseflow range of 500  cfs to 1,000 cfs through the critical habitat reach of the San Juan River  (Farmington, NM to Lake Powell).

Navajo was at 6041.4 ft of pool elevation and 1.07 maf  of live storage (0.449 maf of active storage) by the end of March, which was 83  percent of average for the end of the month.   The release averaged 370 cfs and totaled 22.9 kaf, which was 50 percent  of average for the month.  Preliminary  modified unregulated inflow (MUI) into Navajo was 30.8 af, which was 38 percent  of average for the month.  Calculated  evaporation for the month was 1.4 kaf.   NIIP diverted a total of 5.3 kaf.   Navajo had a net storage change of -3.7 kaf in March.

The most probable MUI forecast for March, April, and  May is 42 kaf (51 percent of average), 73 kaf (50 percent of average), and 190  kaf (78 percent of average), respectively.                     The official April-July forecasts are as follows:                  The most probable MUI forecast for April, May, and  June is 75 kaf (51 percent of average), 195 kaf (80 percent of average), and  135 kaf (71 percent of average), respectively.                     The official April-July forecasts are as follows:                  MIN: 320 kaf (51 percent of average, an increase of 75  kaf from the March official forecast)                  MOST: 420 kaf (67 percent of average, an increase of  30 kaf from the March official forecast)                  MAX: 615 kaf (98 percent of average, a decrease of 35  kaf from the March official forecast)

There are no plans for a spring peak release at Navajo  Reservoir based on this forecast.  Releases  through spring are likely to range between 350 cfs and 600 cfs.  Storage is expected to peak this spring between  71 percent and 81 percent of live capacity.

Reclamation conducts Public Operations Meetings three  times per year to gather input for determining upcoming operations for Navajo  Reservoir. Input from individuals, organizations, and agencies along with other  factors such as weather, water rights, endangered species requirements, flood  control, hydro power, recreation, fish and wildlife management, and reservoir  levels, will be considered in the development of these reservoir operation  plans. In addition, the meetings are used to coordinate activities and exchange  information among agencies, water users, and other interested parties  concerning the San Juan River and Navajo Reservoir. The next meeting will be  held on Tuesday, April 23rd 2024 at 1:00 PM.  This meeting is open to the public, and will  be held at the Farmington Civic Center, 200 West Arrington, in Farmington, New  Mexico (subject to change based on guidance at the time).  The meeting will also have a virtual option. 

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

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**Additional Information**- 40-Day Data
- Historic Data
- Monthly Summary Reports
- Project Notices
- Project Overview
Related Projects & Facilities- Colorado River Storage Project
- Blue Mesa Dam
- Crystal Dam
- Flaming Gorge Dam
- Glen Canyon Dam
- Morrow Point Dam
- Navajo Dam
- Blue Mesa Powerplant
- Crystal Powerplant
- Flaming Gorge Powerplant
- Glen Canyon Powerplant
- Morrow Point Powerplant
Streamflow Data- Upstream:  USGS 09354500 - Los Pinos River at La Boca, CO
- Upstream:  USGS 09349800 - Piedra River near Arboles, CO
- Upstream:  USGS 09346400 - San Juan River near Carracas, CO
- Downstream:  USGS 09355500 - San Juan River near Archuleta, NM
- Downstream:  USGS 09365000 - San Juan River near Farmington, NM
- Downstream:  USGS 09368000 - San Juan River at Shiprock, NM
- Downstream:  USGS 09371010 - San Juan River at Four Corners, CO
- Downstream:  USGS 09379500 - San Juan River near Bluff, UT
Water Supply Forecastfrom the Colorado Basin River Forecast Center- Snowpack Conditions – Above Navajo Reservoir
- CBRFC Inflow Forecast – April-July Inflow Forecast
- Current Water Year Inflow Forecast – Monthly Outlooks
Working Group- Navajo Dam Technical Working Group
Operational Documents- Record of Decision for the Navajo Reservoir Operations, Navajo Unit (2006)  | PDF
- Navajo Reservoir Shortage Sharing Documents (2012)  | PDF
- San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program's Flow Recommendations for the San Juan River (1999)  U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service | PDF
- Law of the River
Related Links- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program
*Last Updated: 4/9/24*More Information about the Bureau of ReclamationStay in Touch-   
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