Gunnison flows cut as demand drops, browns start to spawn

By Dave Buchanan
Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Flows through the Black Canyon of the Gunnison River are dropping this week as the Bureau of Reclamation cuts releases from the Aspinall Unit dams.
The lower flows are in response to reduced demand from Uncompahgre Valley irrigators using the Gunnison Tunnel and to a request from Colorado Parks and Wildlife for lower flows to aid the brown trout spawn.
Flows already have dropped by 200 cubic feet per second, bring the flows through the Black Canyon to 850 cfs.
A target level of 600 cfs for the spawn will be reached next week, according to the Bureau.