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<br />Central Arizona Project <br />Infonnation on New Waddell Dam Operations <br /> <br />A key feature of the Central Arizona Project (CAP) is New Waddell Dam and Reservoir, <br />This reservoir is located just northwest of the Phoenix metropolitan area and will serve as the <br />primary regulatory storage facility for the CAP. Colorado River water will be pumped into <br />and released from the reservoir via the Waddell Pumping-Generating Plant (p-G Plant), The <br />P-G Plant consists of four 2-speed pump-generator units and four adjustable-speed pumping <br />units. New Waddell Dam and 'P"G Plant will allow most 'of CAP's Colorado River water <br />entitlement to be pumped into the Phoenix area and stored during the winter months when <br />energy and water needs are low, and then released for delivery in the summer months when <br />energy and water needs are high, Revenues associated with marketing of power available <br />due to this operating plan are an important part of Central Arizona Water Conservation <br />District's financial plan, Firm power contracts for peaking power have been executed for a <br />major portion of the available electrical capacity normally used for pumping. <br /> <br />The dam and P-G Plant are scheduled to be fully operational in 1995, but initial pump tests <br />and reservoir filling began in the fall of 1992. Pump and generator testing continued through <br />1993, with the goal of completing all tests before the summer of 1994. In order to facilitate <br />electrical and mechanical testing; including high-head pumping, high-speed generation, and <br />evaluation of right abutment grouting (all required for New Waddell construction contract <br />completion); the active conservation storage space in New Waddell Reservoir must be <br />virtually full, To complete this testing before the summer of 1994, Central Arizona Water <br />Conservation District will have to pump at or near maximum CAP system capacity through <br />January, 1994, This will result in a full reservoir available for completion of all testing <br />through February and March, During April through September, it is anticipated that most <br />CAP water needs downstream from the New Waddell turnout will be satisfied with CAP <br />water stored in New Waddell Reservoir, Beginning in October, 1994, Colorado River water <br />will be pumped through the CAP system into New Waddell Reservoir for use during the <br />summer of 1995, Total 1994 CAP diversions from the Colorado River are not expected to <br />exceed 616 MCM (,500 MAP), <br /> <br />Senator Wash and Laguna Reservoirs <br /> <br />Water storage operations at Senator Wash Reservoir allow regulation of water deliveries to <br />United States irrigation agencies and Mexico, The reservoir is operated to prevent Colorado <br />River flows from exceeding Mexican Treaty requirements at Morelos Dam; and to reduce <br />these excess flows when practicable during rainstorms or other unusual events, Operational <br />objectives at and below Laguna Dam are to conserve water, control sediment, and to <br />maintain the river channel. <br /> <br />Releases from Imperial Dam are reregulated by Laguna Reservoir to maintain river flows <br />downstream near Yuma. Laguna releases combined with agricultural seepage and drainage <br />provide a continuous live stream serving recreational and fish and wildlife purposes from <br />Laguna Dam to Morelos Dam. Occasionally higher than normal releases are required from <br /> <br />14 <br /> <br />I <br />I <br />. <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />eI <br />t <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />-, <br />I <br />