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r <br />1 <br />[I <br />1 <br />1 <br />1 generating a consistent flow of electricity, Reclamation will adjust water releases from <br />2 the Dam based on hourly, daily, weekly, or monthly demand. Such operations are <br />3 known as peaking operations. Peaking operations create fluctuating flows in the river <br />4 downstream of the Dam. <br />5 29. Prior to Dam construction, the Colorado River was a sediment -laden river. <br />6 Below the Dam, river flows varied according to the seasons, rainfall and inflows from <br />7 side canyons and tributaries. Springtime floods originating in the Upper Colorado River <br />8 transported sediment downstream, which built beaches and maintained habitat for native <br />9 fish. With the Dam in place, the Colorado River system has changed significantly. <br />10 Sediment flowing from the Upper Colorado River is trapped in Lake Powell. Almost all <br />11 of the sediment that moved downstream of Glen Canyon Dam no longer does. The river <br />12 downstream of the Dam now runs cold because the water that is released is taken from <br />13 below Lake Powell's surface. <br />14 30. Since 2000, severe drought conditions have existed in the Colorado River <br />15 Basin. During this time, inflow into Lake Powell above Glen Canyon Dam has been <br />16 extremely low. In July 1999, Lake Powell was at 99 percent of capacity. In November <br />17 2007, Lake Powell was at 49 percent of capacity due to the continuing effects of the <br />18 drought in the Colorado River Basin. The seven -year period from 2000 through 2006 <br />19 proved to be the lowest amount of water inflow in 100 years of recordkeeping. <br />20 31. These drought conditions have resulted in low water release years. In low <br />21 water years, 8.23 million- acre -feet must still be released from Glen Canyon Dam. <br />22 Reclamation released 8.23 million- acre -feet each year between 2001 and 2007. 2008 is <br />23 forecasted to be a low water year as well. <br />24 B. 1968 Colorado River Basin Project Act <br />25 32. The Colorado River Basin Project Act of 1968 (" 1968 Act ") applies to <br />26 Glen Canyon Dam as well as other dams on the Colorado River administered by <br />27 Reclamation under the authority of the 1956 Act. The 1968 Act, Section 602(a), <br />28 established the amount of water required to be stored in the Colorado River reservoirs, <br />Complaint 10 <br />Case 3:07 -cv- 08164 -DGC Document 1 Filed 12/07/2007 Page 10 of 20 <br />