McPhee Release Update for Tuesday June 27, 2023
McPhee is currently releasing 650 CFS downstream. Releases are currently fluctuating as needed to maintain the reservoir’s water surface elevation at full and will vary throughout the day. Due to inconsistencies in the inflows reported at the Dolores gauge, it has become impractical to operate releases to closely mimic daily inflow fluctuations as planned last week, though releases are expected to vary similarly.
Based on the current forecast, downstream releases are expected to be about 100-400 CFS on average through Friday, June 30th, with diurnal changes above and below that range. On Saturday, July 1st, releases are expected to reach the planned base flow of 75 CFS, and this managed release will be finished.
It is possible for the end of the spill to vary by a day or so either way. Particularly at the end of the spill, releases below McPhee can change at any time.
American Whitewater has asked us to post a link to their online rafter survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DoloresBoaters2023.
For more details on the current official forecast, go to https://www.cbrfc.noaa.gov/wsup/graph/front/espplot_dg.html?year=2023&id=MPHC2
Useful Links:
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
Bureau of Land Management: https://www.blm.gov/visit/dolores-river-srma
The BLM has a detailed boating map of the Dolores river posted on their website. Link below.
BLM Avenza Map page for the Dolores: https://www.blm.gov/documents/colorado/public-room/map/colorado-dolores-river-100k-boating-map-17×40
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: