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<br />., <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Ie <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Agenda item 15 <br />September 13-14,2005 Board Meeting <br />Page 5 01'5 <br /> <br />Therefore, storage in Lake Powell should increase approximately another 2.0 mafifthe <br />forecast holds. <br />. Special releases from Lake Powell are anticipated, based on recommendations from the <br />AMWG to Interior. The current proposal is that during September and October 2005 <br />there would be alternating 2-week periods between a steady flow of 8,000 cfs and a <br />fluctuating flow between 6,500 cfs and 9,000 cfs. Then beginning on January I, 2006 <br />and extending through March high fluctuating flows designed to suppress non-native <br />fish (mainly trout) will be made. These will range from 5,000 to 20,000 cfs depending <br />on power needs except on Sundays when the range will be limited to between 5,000 and <br />8,000 cfs. However, there remains some debate on this experiment and there is a <br />possibility it may change. <br />. Lake Mead currently sits at 59% of capacity with 15.3 mafoflive storage available, <br />which is 90 feet in elevation above minimum power pool and Nevada's upper intake. <br />. Overall system storage is 60% of capacity and most of the tributary reservoirs are at or <br />near full. <br />. Total Lower Basin tributary inflow to date this water year is approximately 2.85 maf <br />and that is after the depleted tributary reservoir storage was filled. By comparison, the <br />long-term average is 1.3 mat: <br />. Excess flows to Mexico for this water year to date are approximately 148,000 af, which <br />isn't to bad given the monsoon season this year. Mexico is scheduled to receive 1.5 maf <br />in both 2005 and 2006. <br />. EIS operations to meet endangered fish needs below Flaming Gorge, Aspinall and <br />Navajo continue. <br />. No work on repairs to Senator Wash are in progress, plans to dredge the basin behind <br />Laguna Dam to restore storage capacity are under development, studies to develop <br />additional storage along the All-American Canal near Drop 2 continue, however, a class <br />action lawsuit has been filed in attempts to stop this effort. <br />. The Yuma Desalter was not operated during 2005 and operation is not anticipated in <br />2006. <br /> <br />UPDer Basin Hvdrolol!ic Determination <br /> <br />In order for New Mexico to construct the Gallup-Navajo Project within their compact <br />apportionment, they need to have the hydrologic determination increased enough for them to get <br />an additional 10,000 AF +/- of apportionment. Thus, the determination needs to increase from <br />the current 6.0 mafto approximately 6.1 maf (New Mexico getting I I .5%). Staff is working <br />with Reclamation and other members of the Upper Colorado River Commission Engineering <br />Committee on this effort. An increase of 100,000 afwould mean an additional 51,750 afwould <br />be available to Colorado. Every factor affecting the determination is being closely reviewed. <br />Factors include among others, available storage, current levels of depletions and the amount of <br />shortage that they experience, reservoir siltation, and incidental losses. Depending on the <br />validity ofthe available data and certain assumptions selected, it appears that the determination <br />could be as high as 6.5 maf. As further progress is made on this effort, such will be discussed <br />with the Board. <br /> <br />Attachment <br /> <br />Flood Protection. Water Project Planning and Finance. Stream and Lake Protection <br />Water Supply Protection. Conservation Planning <br />