Fryingpan River water levels to rise from Ruedi Reservoir
Water releases into the Fryingpan River will rise significantly this week as Ruedi Reservoir participates in a program to aid endangered fish on the Colorado River.
The releases from Ruedi Reservoir dam will increase from 200 cubic feet per second to 650 cubic feet per second “over the next few days,” said a statement from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Denver. Releases will be coordinated among five reservoirs in the Upper Colorado River Basin. The releases are expected to remain high through next week.
Releases also will be increased from Granby Reservoir, Williams Fork Reservoir and Wolford Mountain Reservoir. Green Mountain Reservoir has already increased its outflow to the maximum because of high runoff.
The goal of the Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program is to boost the flows to mimic natural conditions on the river close to Grand Junction. This coordinated effort will boost the flow of the Colorado River to between 15,000 and 16,000 at Cameo from June 4 through 10.
The increased flow in the Fryingpan River will boost the flow of the Roaring Fork River below the confluence in Basalt.
Ruedi Reservoir is currently at 83 percent full.
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