From the Bureau of Reclamation:
“As of December 7, 2022, Flaming Gorge Reservoir pool elevation is 6009.87 feet, which amounts to 70 percent of live storage capacity. Unregulated inflow volume for the month of November is approximately 40,000 acre-feet (af), which is 80 percent of the average November unregulated inflow volume. The current average daily release is 1,760 cfs.
Pursuant to the 2022 Plan, which was just approved by the Upper Division States, the Upper Colorado River Commission, and the Department of the Interior, an additional 500 thousand acre-feet (kaf) will be delivered from Flaming Gorge Reservoir from May 2022 through April 2023 to Lake Powell. This volume will be added to the spring periods by increasing the Larval Trigger Study Plan (LTSP) releases to 8600 cfs for 7 days, a 3-day smallmouth bass flow spike (mid-late July, possibly earlier), as well as the summer-winter base flow period. Under a Drought Contingency Plan adopted in 2022, the total release volume to date is ~310 kaf (12/7). The total release volume under this same plan in WY2022 is 194 kaf.
The observed April through July unregulated inflow volume into Flaming Gorge Reservoir is 552,000 acre-feet (57 percent of average), a moderately dry hydrologic classification. Due to spring flows being greater than 14,000 cfs for more than 4 days in Reach 2, per the 2022 Plan, an average hydrologic operation was conducted for summer, autumn, and winter base flow.
The December forecast for unregulated inflows into Flaming Gorge for the next three months projects below average conditions. December, January, and February forecasted unregulated inflow volumes amount to 28,000 af (85 percent of average), 34,000 af (84 percent of average), and 35,000 af (77 percent of average), respectively.”
What this means:
The Bureau of Reclamation is currently operating a double peak flow throughout the day. The flow is fluctuating between 1,200 CFS and 3,000 CFS. River temperatures are approximately 41.2 degrees Fahrenheit. Current snowpack in the Upper Green River Drainage is sitting at 98 percent of normal. Current snowpack in the Lower Green River Drainage is sitting at 141 percent of normal.
You might see some midge activity at some point in the day, but Winter on the Green is all about the streamer game especially with the double peak in flows. The streamer bite can be fantastic while the flows are up. Depending on the day, colors will change. Generally speaking on dark or cloudy days throw dark colors and bright and sunny days throw bright colors.