The Bureau of Reclamation has announced that releases from Navajo Dam will be reduced. At 4 a.m. on this morning (Tuesday, September 16th), flows will decrease from 650 cubic feet per second to 500 cubic feet per second. These adjustments are part of the Navajo Unit’s operations, designed to support both authorized water uses and the health of the San Juan River system.
Specifically, the goal is to maintain flows through critical habitat for endangered fish species between Farmington, New Mexico, and Lake Powell. The San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program recommends base flows averaging between 500 and 1,000 cubic feet per second, calculated from gauges along that stretch of river.
Officials note that this release schedule is subject to change depending on river conditions and weather. More details, including updates on reservoir operations, can be found on Reclamation’s Navajo Dam website.
