WSP00896

• File Number: 8282.600.10
• Description: Colorado River Operating Annual Reports
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Date: 1/1/1984
• Author: USDOI/BOR
• Title: Operation of the Colorado River Basin 1984 Projected Operations 1985
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Publication

Introduction

Irrigoled avocados.

The operation of the Colorado River Basin
during the post year and the projected
operation for the current year reflect flood
control, domestic use, irrigation,
hydroelectric power generation, water
quality control, tish and wildlife
propagation, recreation, and Colorado River
Compact requirements.

Storage and release of water from the
Upper Basin reservoirs are governed by all
applicable laws and agreements concerning
the Colorado River, including the
impoundment and release of water in the
Upper Basin required by Section 602(0\ of
the Colorado River Basin Project Act of
_S~pt.!'I11Qes 30, 1.968 (Public Law 90-537).
The operation of the Lower Basin reservoirs
reflects Mexican Treaty obligotions and
lower Basin con1roctuol commitments.

Nothing in this report is intended to
interpret the provisions of the Colorado
River Compact (45 Stat. 1057), the Upper
Colorado River Basin Compact (63 Stat. 31).
the Water Treaty of 1944 with the United
Mexican States (Treaty Series 994, 59 Stat.
1219), the Decree entered by the Supreme
Court of the United States in Arizona v.
California e' 01. (376 U.S. 3~O). the Boulder
Canyon Project Act (45 Stat. 1057), the
Boulder Canyon Project Adjustment Act (54
Stat. 77~: 43 U.S.C 6180). the Colorado
River Storage Project Act (70 Stat. 105; 43
U.S.c. 620), or the Colorado River Basin
Project Act (82 Stat. 885; ~3 U.S.C 1501).
2

Authority for Report

Pursuant to the Colorado River Basin
Project Act (Public Law 90-537) of 1968,
I am pleased to present to the Congress,
and to the Governors of the Colorado River
Basin States. the fourteenth annual report
on 1he Operation of the Colorado River
Basin.

This report describes the octuol operation
of the reservoirs in the Colorado River
drainage area constructed under the
authority of the Colorado River Storage
Proiec' Act, the Boulder Canyon Project
Act, and the Boulder Canyon Project
Adjustment Act during water year 1984.
Also described in this report is the
projected operation_of these -reservoirs -
during water year 1985 under the "Criteria
for Coordinated Long.Range Operation of
Colorado River Reservoirs," published in the
Federal Register June 10, 1970.

William P. Clark, Secretary
United States Department of the Interior

Actual Operations Under
Criteria - Water Year 1984

~~

~.

Le-It spillway flash boards. GI_n Conyon Dom

The initial plan oi operotion for water year
1984, based on average inflow conditions,
called for scheduled releases from Lake
Powell of 14.6 million acre-feet (maf). Thi!
plan of operation would have created 6.5
maf of vacant space in the Colorado River
reservoir system by September 30, 1984, of
which 2.9 mef would have been in lake
Powell. With this volume of release the
contents of lake Powell would have
remained below the contents of lake Meae
for the entire water year. A plan to
equalize the projected end of water year
active contents of lake Powell and lake
Mead was not required becau5e (1) excess
water was being released from lake Mead
to. avoid-anticipated- spills- and (2) repair of
spillways at Glen Canyon was being
completed.

The April through July forecast of runoH
made on January 6, 19SA, was 13 maf or
174 percent of normal. Accordingly,
releases from Glen Canyon were
maintained at maximum powerplant
capacity. For 10 weeks through mid.March
however, a much drier pattern developed
with precipitation as low as 40 percent of
normal over the entire basin during
January. By April 5, 1984, the runoff
forecast had dropped '0 11.5 maf or 154
percent of normal. A cold. wet April