McPhee Release Update for Friday June 21, 2019

POSTED BY ERIC SPRAGUE ON JUNE 21, 2019

McPhee is currently releasing flows of approximately 1,600 CFS downstream.

In response to inflows spiking higher than expected today, releases are currently ramping up to 2,000 CFS, which they are expected to reach at midnight Saturday morning June 22nd.
Releases are expected to remain at 2,000 CFS until Monday June 24th, when releases will ramp down to approximately 1,200 CFS to allow McPhee to finish filling.
Releases will remain at or above 1,200 CFS through Thursday June 27th, and at or above 1,000 CFS through next weekend, Sunday June 30th. More details will continue to be announced on later posts.
When McPhee reaches approximately full, managers will begin operating releases to balance inflows and maintain reservoir elevation at full. Due to the variation in inflows caused by both diurnal shifts and unpredictable weather patterns, releases can be expected to fluctuate above 1,200 CFS at times through the next several days.

The managed release is now winding down for the year and the seasonal recession in inflows has begun. The ramp-down from 800 CFS down to basic fishery releases is expected to start sometime around July 4th. If all goes as planned, it will last approximately a week, then the spill will be over. Please continue to check back on this site regularly for new updates, primarily on Mondays and Thursdays.

Please review Wednesday’s post under the “Read Older Posts” button below for more information on the current forecast.

If you have questions, the best way to address DWCD is through the “Contact” page of this website. Otherwise you can try calling 970-882-2164 extensions 5, 1 or 6.

Dolores Gage: https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?09166500

McPhee Elevation & Capacity: https://dwr.state.co.us/surfacewater/data/detail_tabular.aspx?ID=MCPRESCO&MTYPE=STORAGE

Dolores below McPhee: https://dwr.state.co.us/surfacewater/data/detail_graph.aspx?ID=DOLBMCCO&MTYPE=DISCHRG

Slickrock Gage: https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?09168730

Bedrock Gage: https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?09171100

DRBA: https://doloresriverboating.org/

AW: https://www.americanwhitewater.org/

The following are links to the American Whitewater River Inventory pages for the lower Dolores River:

Bradfield to Dove Creek

Dove Creek to Slickrock

Slickrock to Bedrock

Bedrock to Gateway

Gateway to Confluence with the Colorado River

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