WSP09412

• File Number: 8210.140.20
• Description: Colorado River Basin Organizations and Entities - Colorado River Basin States Forum California
• State: CA
• Basin: Western Slope
• Date: 1/1/1972
• Author: Myron B Holburt
• Title: Annual Report for the Calendar Year 1971
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Annual Report

- -~...'
'l0U,

1969 while developing the Mead-Powell op-
erating criteria, the required 602 (a) storage
should be based on a less than the most criti-
cal dry period basis.
The Bureau considered the Chief Engi-
neer's comments, as well as comments by
other states, and prepared new drafts of the
report. The final report, entitled "Annual
Report, 1971 Operation of the Colorado Riv-
er Basin, 1972 Projected Operations", avoid-
ed the issue of determining a numerical value
for 602 (a) storage by stating that "the ac-
cumulation of '602 (a) storage' is not the cri-
terion governing the release of water during
h "
t e current year.

Power

Power production plays an important role
in Colorado River Basin development be-
cause the Basin's hydroelectric plants pro-
vide the major source of revenues to repay
costs of multiple purpose projects.
During water year 1970-71, the storage in
all major Basin reservoirs with power devel-
opments remained above rated power heads,
Operating levels and characteristics of the
major reservoirs at beginning and end of the
water year are shown in Table 6. Changes in
operating levels during the year are depicted
on Plate 5 for seven of the Basin's reservoirs.
At the end of the water year Lake Mead had
3,253,000 acre-feet stored above rated head
and Lake Powell had 4,181,000 acre-feet
stored above rated head,

\

Tabl. 6
MAJOR COLORADO RIVER BASIN POWER PLANTS
OPERATING CHARACTERISTICS AND RESERVOIR LEVElS
WATER YEAR 1970-71

Design;Jt~ Storage Designated Storage
Net Change Min. Power Above Min. Rated Above
Elcl.ation Elcl'ation During Operating Oper. Level Head Rated HClld
9/JO/70 9/JO/71 Year Lel-el 9/JO/71 Elevation 9!JO/71
(Feet Above Sca LCl'eI) (F..,) (F..r) (lOOOAF) (F..r) (1000 AF)
Lake Mead ..."... 1,152.6 1,153.6 +1.0 1,083 6.862 1,123 3,253
Lake Powell ...... 3,598.9 3,614.3 +15.4 3,490 9,483 ),570 4,181
Flaming Gorge.. 5,980.4 6,018.7 +38.3 5,871 2,698 5,946 1,869
Blue Mesa .......... 7,517.3 7,483.6 -)3.7 7,393 451 7,438 283
Fontenelle .......... 6,492.8 6,503.7 + 10.9 6,475 186 6,491 93

20