| Subject: | Near-Term Chama Flows |
|---|---|
| Date: | Mon, 16 May 2016 10:59:41 -0600 |
| From: | Steve Harris |
All: You may have noticed that the Chama came up to 300 cfs this morning. This is the start of some water operations that will provide high flows on the Chama over the next 4-6 weeks. Tomorrow, the Bureau will take the Chama to 500. Expect the river to continue to come up with a brief exception next Tuesday-Wednesday. The river will probably peak during the week of Memorial Day, at something like 2000 cfs or more. Here’s what’s happening: BOR has stored water in El Vado to provide a silvery minnow spawning spike. It will release these flows over the coming two weeks, in harmony with Rio Grande high flows, aiming at target 3-4000 cfs in the Middle Rio Grande. Los Alamos County will also be conducting a 400-1200 cfs test of its new turbines at El Vado on May 24-25. After the minnow operation is over (~June 15), BOR will be releasing the inflow to El Vado. Check the La Puente guage to see what’s up there. (Should be above 400 well into July). Weekend releases should occur throughout the season. Steve Harris Far-Flung Adventures/Rio Grande Restoration HCR 69 Box 3-C Embudo, NM 87531 home/office: 575-751-1269 fax: same Mobile: 575-770-2502 steve.harris39@gmail.com