Concerns for flooding along the Green River

The Flaming Gorge Working group hosted a meeting in Price. The Bureau of Reclamation has had multiple requests this year for an additional Flaming Gorge Working Group Meeting earlier in the season to discuss the wet hydrology this year.  Reclamation agreed that an earlier meeting was needed to keep everyone informed on what’s happening at Flaming Gorge. Green River residents enlisted the help from state senator David Hinkins and Rep. Christine Watkins to get the meeting scheduled. They thanked these representatives for their help to get this important issue of flooding along the Green River addressed.
The Flaming Gorge Working Group is an open public forum for information exchange between Reclamation and the stakeholders of Flaming Gorge Dam. The public is encouraged to attend and comment on the operations and plans presented by Reclamation at these meetings.
Roger Barton from Emery County thanked reclamation for hosting the earlier meeting. He works with the conservation district. They met in Green River with 15 people representing Emery and Grand counties. He has gathered statements from all these people to present to the bureau. They were impacted by the flooding in 2011 and in 1984. Flaming Gorge can help control flooding. Part of the criteria for building the dam was flood control. All original criteria for the dam must be maintained. He recommended they keep an eye on the flow gage at Green River City, if the flow is reaching 30,000 cfs, then hold off on any releases at Flaming Gorge. Fill the reservoir. Protect from losses in Green River. Barton told of the releases in 2011 which impacted the diversion dam structure in Green River. The diversion dam was damaged so badly it couldn’t be rehabilitated. A new $7.7 million structure was built. Residents of Green River are anxious and worried the new structure could wash out. The maximum is 30,000 cfs which the new diversion can handle. “Remember the folks in Green River and watch the flows,” stressed Barton.
Curtis Rozman from Green River presented information at the meeting. He owns the Ruby Ranch 22 miles south of Green River at the spot where the San Rafael River enters the Green River. He was speaking for the land owners in the City of Green River, Grand and Emery counties. He said the flooding in 2011 impacted his ranch $113,000 that year and has exceeded $200,000 in repairs from damages sustained that year. “Flood control is one of the main purposes of Flaming Gorge,” said Rozman. The local farmers contribute to the economy of Green River and surrounding areas. “The economy here is a struggle, it’s not booming. A dollar spent locally turns over three or four times before leaving the community. Our local farms contribute to the economy, if there’s a flood, that may go away. In the local economy there are people who rely on the river. A lot of farmers depend on the water. Utah has spent millions to put that water to beneficial use. Why spend all that money to put in infrastructure? Why, because it’s the most valuable resource we have. Who is banking that water? The farmers are the largest users. The largest segment putting that water out of Flaming Gorge to beneficial use. If we’re wiped out, then the farmers can’t put that water to beneficial use. Help us out. It’s a big thing. In 2011, look at your records for March-May.
“We don’t have to wait until April. We know we have a potential problem. Flaming Gorge is one of the best reservoirs where you can look at data,” said Rozman.
In 1962, the dam was completed and the gate was closed. In September of 1963 it began generating power. How long did it take to fill to capacity asked Rozman. He said it took 12 years to fill to capacity. Other reservoirs can’t get full. “The watershed above Flaming Gorge is more than sufficient to allow for a little fluctuation when we have potential for a big problem. Why didn’t we drop the dam in preparation for 2011? In 2011, it was only dropped one foot. Rozman asked that management take advantage of the storage capacity of Flaming Gorge. There is available 3.5 million acre feet of capacity and in 2011, it never even came close. “It’s simple, if managed to keep at maximum capacity, you can drop it and refill it without hurting anybody.”
Rozman said that would save the farmers a lot of heartache and damage. If the flows through the middle of Green River are too high, several businesses will be flooded and possible loss of life. If the banks are chewed out at the new diversion, the new diversion will be left high and dry. “If Green River gets destroyed, it will be felt in the economy throughout the state,” said Rozman. The little farms do a lot of business all over. “It’s not a small thing, it’s a huge thing to the small communities and the state of Utah. It’s not hard if you go back and look at the data. Most years you don’t have to manage Flaming Gorge that closely, this year you need to execute more flexibility and let more water out. In 2011, you released water when it didn’t need to be. From June 4-July 24, the dam wasn’t full, water was released and we suffered.”
Rozman concluded by asking reclamation to look at all the data, look at the inflows, the better educated everyone is the better off we will be. He’s been in business for 30 years. Making complicated decisions is part of the game. He encouraged them to do a better job managing the water, so it doesn’t damage the farms down stream. There’s only been a handful of bad flood events over the years. “The fish can wait until next year, these people and farms can’t stand this. Make sure we don’t get flooded out along the Green River,” said Rozman.
Barton said, “Be flexible, get water out now so there will be minimal impacts downstream.
The comment was made the flooding episodes experienced could have been prevented if the gates were closed to all but minimum flows. It was a manmade situation.
Another Green River homeowner spoke. He said they are property owners along the river. They retired in Green River. They picked Green River, because it is a beautiful place with beautiful people. They have 10 acres along the Green River and they have watched the water come up. He isn’t home in the summer, because he goes out on a fire crew, but is very concerned about where the water level will be this year and if it’s safe to leave his home. “Is water going to come into my basement? We have our whole lives locked into this property. I want an official to come to my property and tell me where the water’s going to be this year. Do you have any staff members that can come and visit?
He was given a contact card of a staff member who will come and assess his property.
Property owners asked for predictions now to give them time to get ready for what might be coming, should they build diversions around their houses and basements? An ice jam on the river this year, caused the river to come up five feet overnight.
Barton encouraged the bureau to lower the water level of the dam now to manage the water better and prevent economic loss to the people of Emery County.
Citizens expressed their thanks to the bureau for coming to speak to them. One citizen asked the bureau to manage the water like it was their house, their farm and their lives on the line.
Mayor Pat Brady from Green River asked for a commitment from the bureau, that they wouldn’t send down more water than what’s needed.
Olsen said they are currently releasing more water and will increase the flows as needed. They want to hear comments and take input from the public. The next meeting will take place April 20 in Vernal.
Heather Patno works on projections for flows into Flaming Gorge Dam. The forecast for unregulated flow into Flaming Gorge Dam during April-July is projected to be 199 percent of average. Continued snow accumulation during the past few weeks has increased the forecast to 231 percent of average. Current snowpack is 176 percent of median and the Upper Green Basin is 146 percent up from 117 percent in mid-February.
It is anticipated storms will continue to come and are predicted. Snows can continue to accumulate through May. Current snowpack indicates that a conservative operational plan with increased releases is necessary. Flaming Gorge will be operated with the utmost caution to address the forecasted runoffs.
Extended bypass releases will be required to manage runoff this year. Reclamation is advising all its stakeholders early of the extended bypass releases so that planning for the next season may occur. Current projections indicate an increase which will include bypass releases to 6,600 cfs will begin on or around April 1. All projections are provisional and will change bases upon observed hydrology.
The Yampa River Basin has not seen the snowpack accumulation that is present this season in the Upper Green. The March final forecast for the Yampa is 121 percent of average. Yampa River flows are largely uncontrolled which means the current forecast provides potential relief to forecasted peak magnitude flows this spring as compared against 2011 when the Yampa River Basin was 228 percent of average. There is always the potential for increased snow accumulation within the Yampa River Basin so the water users are encouraged to plan accordingly.
Flaming Gorge dam will increase releases within the requirements of the Record of Decision. On March 7 releases were increased to power plant capacity 4,600 cfs.
Releases are subject to observed hydrology and all projections may change. It is currently anticipated that releases will remain at or above power plant capacity for the remainder of the spring run-off season.
Heather presented to the group of interested water users and citizens from Green River and other areas which may be impacted should the Green River flood. There were also vendors there from the upper Green River which depend on the Green River for recreational purposes as they lead fishing trips and rent rafts and other recreational opportunities on the river. All are concerned with what’s going to happen with the spring run-off begins in earnest on the Green.
Heather explained the snowpack this year has just been phenomenal with some areas over 225 percent of average. A wet December, January and February marked three months of precipitation on the Upper Green River basin in excess of 200 percent. The Yampa she explained has not had the precipitation the upper Green has. Overall the Yampa is 95 percent of average.
She explained the atmospheric weather events we’ve experienced this year usually do not move this far inland. In all the years records have been kept back 50 years almost all areas this year have received record precipitation.
She explained one factor which will be helpful in avoiding flooding is the lower elevations have melted off due to warmer weather. But, there is still a significant area above Flaming Gorge with snow pack.
Another difference in 2017 than in 2011, the last flooding year, is that year was a wet-cold spring. The Yampa isn’t anywhere near where it was in 2011 which will help.
This past fall was wet and the soil moisture was high entering winter. The Yampa did not have a wet fall.
With all the snowpack and wet soils there will be an enhanced run-off. There will be record flows into Flaming Gorge at least 231 percent of average.
Heather said they make the assertions and predictions they do based on models. They take average weather scenarios in dry and wet  years and draw conclusions about what the next three months will look like. Projections are the runoff could be anywhere from 187-197 percent of average. This also depends on the weather this spring.
The first 14 days of March were warm and try. During that time there was a slight 8 percent decrease in Flaming Gorge. The Yampa was down 25-30 percent of average during that time period. “There are uncertainties with the forecasts. We do our best to forecast, but future weather is the biggest factor,” said Heather. There are a large range of possibilities that could happen in March, April and May, but it’s certain there will be high flows into Flaming Gorge.
The current elevation of Flaming Gorge is 17 feet below the dam.
One meeting goer said the Duchesne River will also contribute additional flows this year.
Malcom Olsen said they are giving out this information so the people can be prepared. They do their best to manage Flaming Gorge. They make comparisons to historic data. He said the Colorado is divided into upper basin and lower basin states. The upper basin states have been allowed to store the water for use in both upper and lower basin states as well as Mexico. There is 7.5 million acre feet of water per year which the upper basin must deliver to the lower basin. They are required to meet these obligations. Flaming Gorge is one of the largest water storage facilities. Once water arrives in Lake Powell then it’s no longer available for use by the upper basin. So the water is stored up high as long as possible. The facility is used for agriculture, culinary, flood control, and power generation. Monies from power generation is used to help pay to operate the reservoirs. It also provides revenue for salinity projects.
They look at and evaluate forecasts and look at storage and inflows to best determine water delivery.
Olsen said this year releases are being made at a higher rate and an earlier time than usual. Current releases are based on hydrologic conditions and not on the endangered fish.
There are three reaches; the first reach one is to the confluence of the Yampa; reach two includes the Yampa and all the inputs into the Yampa; Reclamation has cut back flows from Flaming Gorge in the past to minimize flooding from the Yampa.
Farmers wondered if flows could be increased earlier. In 2011 they said flows weren’t increased until the first of May exactly when they didn’t need it. Flows were increased again in June which devastated farmers in Green River. They said releases could have been happening in the spring and the flooding of 2011 could have been eliminated.
Green River completed their new diversion dam last spring and they have spent millions on flood preparation. “Open the dam, do it now, don’t bombard us again,” urged the farmers.
The endangered fish are a complex part of operating Flaming Gorge. The record of decision determines how they are governed, they are the regulating documents.
The question was asked if economic impacts are considered when creating these documents governing the fish. They answered there are a lot of factors considered in creating the documents. By experimenting and trying to keep the fish off the endangered species list they are actually helping the farmers. A listing of these fish could cause similar situations like what happened in Klamath Falls in Oregon.