Flaming Gorge Technical Working Group

Meeting Notes

Thursday, April 26, 2018

In attendance: Don Anderson, Kevin Bestgen, Ashley Nielson, Jed Parker, Matt Breen, George 

Weekly, Peter Crookston

1. April 26, 2018 Hydrology Review

• The April 1 Final Forecast projected 1,000,000 acre-feet for Flaming Gorge, putting it 

in the average-dry classification. The April 24 ESP projects 1,060,000 acre-feet 

which, if it holds, would likely put Flaming Gorge in the average-wet classification.

Reclamation is currently looking at a 14-day peak at power plant capacity, given 

current hydrology.

• The April 24 ESP Forecast projected 819,000 acre-feet for the Yampa (Lily + 

Maybell), putting it in the moderately dry classification. The 50% exceedance 

probability for the maximum peak daily flow in the Yampa as of April 26 is for an 

8,000 – 9,000 cfs peak for limited duration in late-May. It is unlikely to expect a 

10,000+ cfs Yampa Peak this year.

• Current Yampa River flows have reached above 4,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) and 

Jensen flows are currently ~6,000 cfs. Current FG releases are 1,700 cfs/day with 

fluctuations for hydropower. Flaming Gorge pool elevation will be about one foot 

below the average May 1 target of 6027 ft.

• Signs of razorback sucker spawning have occurred. An estimate was given putting a 

likely larval emergence May 20-24. This estimate should be taken as such and not 

relayed to the public until further confidence can be applied. 

2. Working Group Review

• Stakeholders within the Working Group expressed two concerns that were worth

restating in the FGTWG. Stakeholders first wanted to know what the possibilities of 

varying from the 14-day, 4,600 cfs release were. In addition, stakeholders restated 

their desire to be informed of decisions as far in advance of action as possible. 

• A review of the proposed 14-day, 4,600 cfs peak was given at the Working Group 

meeting. Concern exists that stakeholders may perceive that this release plan is 

unlikely to change when in fact the FGTWG would like to further explore flexibility 

that may alter the presented plan. A desire within the FGTWG was expressed to 

present a range of possibilities at fFuture Working Group meetings according to the 

requirements within the ROD. 

• The Recovery Program indicated to the public that they would request 14-day, 4,600 

cfs releases volume be reshaped to include bypass releases in the FGTWG. The 

official flow request discussion is further described below.

3. Flow request discussion

• An alternate release schedule from Flaming Gorge was presented: three days at 4,600 

cfs followed by a week of bypass flows ending with three-four days at 4,600 cfs 

before returning to base flows. Reclamation will comment on the possibility of 

achieving this schedule at the May 8 FGTWG meeting. 

• The group will defer finalizing the peak flow schedule until the May 8 FGTWG 

meeting or until conditions manifest with the Yampa during larval emergence.

• Discussion of the base flow releases was tabled until further FGTWG meetings.

The next FGTWG Meeting will be held May 8, 2018 at 1:00 pm and Jed will send the summary 

link with calendar invite.