Howdy all,
If you've been up around Green Mountain Reservoir and the Lower Blue, you probably have noticed by now that we have been steadily cutting releases back a little every day since Saturday the 24th.
Today, we cut releases back another 100 cfs. This afternoon, the Lower Blue should be flowing around 400 cfs.
We'll keep curtailing releases as run-off inflow continues to slow down. The reservoir is basically full now (we've got less than one vertical foot to fill), so essentially, we'll be bypassing inflow. What you see in the Lower Blue will be what is coming into Green Mountain Reservoir. So, when reservoir inflow drops, the Lower Blue will also drop.
That will be the story until the downstream Colorado River users start calling for their water. If Cameo is dropping as fast as I hear it is, that could be sooner rather than later. I'll keep ya posted.
IN OTHER NEWS:
Last week, we began our work to install our refurbished gate in the pipe linking Green Mountain Reservoir to the power plant. A dive crew is on site to place a bulkhead, or a "stopper," in the pipe so we can dewater it and place the gate. In order to anchor their work barge, the dive crew tied it to a large boulder just to the east of the dam. That boulder is very popular for "Colorado cliff jumping" into the reservoir--especially when it's really hot.
The anchor lines are a major safety hazard to anyone who decides to jump off that rock. So, effective immediately (today, June 27, 2006), Reclamation is officially closing that huge rock, the boulders around it, and the beach line from the rocks up to the dam.
As most of you are probably aware, the "jumping rocks" have been a hazard for some time--that is to say, about once a year someone gets killed jumping off of them. The anchor lines make them even more dangerous. So, this closure is one strictly for public safety.
Also effective immediately: we are closing the flat parking area around our small communications building, just off the road on your right as you're leaving the dam and going into Heeney. The building area is being closed as part of this same work at the dam. Those of you who float or fish the Lower Blue might have parked, from time to time, around that little building and walked down to the put in, back when we had higher security levels and had closed the gate. Parking at that site is now no longer allowed. But, that's okay because the gate is open every day now, all week long, 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
However, once our work at the dam is complete, BOTH these areas will remain closed to public access. We don't have plans to re-open them anytime soon.
That's all my news for now. Give me a holler if you have questions, concerns, etc.
And hey, be careful out there.
--Kara
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