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<br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br /> <br />Lake Mead <br /> <br />For calendar year 1999 the surplus condition was the criterion governing the operation of Lake <br />Mead in accordance with Article ill(3)(b) of the Operating Criteria and Article II(B)(2) of the <br />decree in Arizona v. California. A volume of 2,097 MCM (1.7 MAF) of water was scheduled <br />for delivery to Mexico in accordance with Article 15 of the 1944 Mexican Treaty and Minute No. <br />242 of the International Boundary and Water Commission. <br /> <br />Lake Mead began water year 1999 at elevation 370 meters (1214.8 feet), with 30,993 MCM <br />(25.126 MAF) in storage, 97 percent of the conservation capacity of 31,919 MCM (25.877 <br />MAF). During the year, Lake Mead reached its maximum elevation of371 meters (1215. 8 feet) <br />at the end of October, 1998, with 31, 180 MCM (25.278 MAF) in storage, 98 percent of capacity. <br />Lake Mead reached its minimum elevation of368 meters (1206.4 feet) at the end of June 1999. <br /> <br />Starting in July 1998, the Bureau's monthly operation plan indicated that flood control releases <br />would be required in January, February, and March of 1999. On September 9, 1998, non- <br />damaging, space-building, flood control releases were initiated, ending around the middle of <br />January 1999. Reduced river channel capacity in the Yuma area and maintenance requirements <br />at Parker and Davis dams contributed to initiating the space-building releases earlier than nonnal. <br />Non-damaging, space-building, flood control releases were once again initiated in September <br />1999. These releases are expected to continue through December 1999. In total 2,109 MCM <br />(1.71 MAF) were released above downstream demands in water year 1999. The total release <br />from Lake Mead through Hoover Dam during water year 1999 was 14,059MCM(11.398MAF) <br />with an additional 319 MCM (0.259 MAP) being diverted from Lake Mead by the Robert Griffith <br />Water Project. <br /> <br />Under the most probable inflow conditions during water year 2000, Lake Mead is expected to <br />rise to elevation 370 meters (1214.3 feet) by the end of December 2000, with 30,944 MCM <br />(25.086 MAF) in storage, 97 percent of conservation capacity. Lake Mead is expected to drop <br />to 367 meters (1203.7 feet) by the end of June 2000, with 28,937 MCM (23.459 M.AF) in <br />storage, 91 percent of conservation capacity. <br /> <br />Flood control releases are projected under the most probable scenario in January and February <br />2000 at the 19,000 cfs level. Hoover Dam is expected to release 14,566 MCM (11.809 MAF) <br />during water year 2000. Downstream demands are expected to be about 12,976 MCM (10.520 <br />MAP) for water year 2000. <br /> <br />No flood control releases are anticipated in calendar year 2000 under the minimum probable <br />scenario. Under the maximum probable, flood control releases, all above the 19,000 cfs level and <br />up to the 35,000 cfs level, are required January through June. Space building is required from <br />September through December 2000, under the maximum probable scenario. <br /> <br />Drawdown during the peak largemouth bass spawning period in April and May is planned to be <br />near the limits of decline recommended in the July 1982, final report of a five-year study by the <br />Arizona Game and Fish Department and the Nevada Department of Wildlife. <br /> <br />December 1, 1999 <br /> <br />12 <br />