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<br />O'0241ls <br /> <br />Warne Allard <br /> <br />L . S. ~ E ~ A TOR · C () L () R -\ D 0 <br /> <br />For Release: <br />April 7, 2005 <br /> <br />Contact: Angela de Rocha <br />202-224-5944 <br /> <br />SENATOR ALLARD ASKS BUREAU OF RECLAMATION <br />TO SUPPORT COLORADO'S REQUEST ON WATER RELEASES <br />FROM LAKE POWELL <br /> <br />WASHINGTON, D.C. - During a hearing of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on <br />Energy and Water Development Thursday, U.S. Senator Wayne Allard (R-Colorado) urged <br />Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner John Keys III to support the State of Colorado's request to <br />cut releases of water from Lake Powell (Glen Canyon Dam) in Arizona this year. This would <br />allow the reservoir to recharge, which, Senator Allard said, will protect Colorado's water <br />interests from future drought-driven demands. <br /> <br />"Lake Powell is a holding point for the Colorado River as it heads downstream," Senator <br />Allard said. 'The Bureau of Reclamation has the discretion this year to refill the reservoir, so that <br />when downstream states demand more water in future years, their needs could be met by Lake <br />Powell, rather than siphoning additional water supplies from the Colorado River's Upper Basin <br />states." <br /> <br />During the hearing, Commissioner Keys said that he would consider the request, adding <br />that the water level at Lake Powell is projected to rise more than 45 feet this year due to <br />increased snow pack in the Upper Basin states. <br /> <br />"Colorado, Utah, Wyoming and New Mexico, the so-called Upper Basin states, must <br />deliver 8.23 million acre-feet of water each year to the Lower Basin states of California, Arizona <br />and Nevada," Senator Allard said. "If the Bureau of Reclamation would allow Lake Powell to <br />retain more water, Colorado could see a savings of three-quarters of a million acre-feet of water <br />during drought-stricken years." <br /> <br />''This is an excellent year to do this, because the Lower Basin states have received <br />adequate levels of precipitation," Senator Allard said. "I am hopeful the Bureau of Reclamation <br />wi11100k favorably on my request." <br /> <br /># <br />