9400

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 9400
• Author: U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.
• Title: Annual Operating Plan For Colorado River Reservoirs.
• USFW Year: 1995.
• USFW - Doc Type: \
• Copyright Material: NO

period. Since lake elevation will be typical of previous years, normal conditions are
expected for boating and other recreational uses.
Reclamation is the lead agency in the Native Fish Work Group, a multi-agency group of
scientists attempting to replace the aging stock of endangered razorback suckers in Lake
Mohave. Larval suckers are captured by hand in and around spawning areas during the
spring and placed into predator-free, lake-side backwaters for rearing through the spring and
summer. When the lake is normally drawn down during the fall, these fish are harvested
from these rearing areas and then released to the lake. The suckers grow very quickly,
usually exceeding eight inches in length by September.
Central Arizona Project
Information on New Waddell Dam Operations
A key feature of the Central Arizona Project (CAP) is New Waddell Dam and Reservoir.
This reservoir is located just northwest of the Phoenix metropolitan area and will serve as the
primary regulatory storage facility for the CAP. Colorado River water will be pumped into
and released from the reservoir via the Waddell Pumping-Generating Plant (P-G Plant). i
New Waddell Dam and P-G Plant will allow most of CAP's Colorado River water
entitlement to be pumped into the Phoenix area and stored during the winter months when
energy and water needs are low, and then released for delivery in the summer months when
energy and water needs are high. Revenues associated with marketing of power available
due to this operating plan are an important part of Central Arizona Water Conservation
'
District
s financial plan. Firm power contracts have been executed for all of the available
energy and capacity in excess of that needed for CAP.
The dam and P-G Plant are scheduled to be fully operational in 1995. During the months of
January through March, in addition to normal CAP water deliveries, Colorado River water
will be pumped through the CAP system for storage in the reservoir. During April and
May, all CAP demands will be met with water pumped directly from the Colorado River and
there will be little or no Colorado River water pumped into New Waddell Reservoir for
storage during these two months. From June through September it is anticipated that most
CAP water needs downstream from the New Waddell turnout will be satisfied with CAP
water stored in New Waddell Reservoir. Beginning in October 1995, Colorado River water
will be pumped through the CAP system into New Waddell Reservoir for use during the
summer of 1996. Total 1995 CAP diversions from the Colorado River are not expected to
exceed 1,049 MCM (.850 MAF).

Senator Wash and Laguna Reservoirs
Water storage operations at Senator Wash Reservoir allow regulation of water deliveries to
United States irrigation agencies and Mexico. The reservoir is operated to prevent Colorado
River flows from exceeding Mexican Treaty requirements at Morelos Dam; and to reduce
these excess flows when practicable during rainstorms or other unusual events. Operational
14