WSP02638 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

1712 Lower Basin Developments The Water and Power Resources Service awarded two contracts totaling $78.0 million for the construction of the Salt-Gila, Bouse Hills and Little Harquahala Pumping Plants on the Central Arizona Project's (CAP) approximately 300-mile-long canal system. Two CAP contracts totaling $10.4 million were awarded for furnishing, installing, and testing pumps, valves and valve operating systems for the Havasu and the Salt-Gila Pumping Plants. Also awarded was a $25.8 million contract for the construction of an 11.24-mile reach of CAP's 190-mile-long Granite Reef Aqueduct. Three contracts totaling $9.9 million were awarded for replacement of station service equipment, furnishing replacement runners and runner cones for five turbines, and for the uprating of two generators at the Hoover Powerplant. The two generators are the first of 17 units scheduled for uprating. When the modifications are completed, sometime in the 1990' s, the nameplate capacity of the powerplant will have been increased from 1,340 megawatts to about 1,800 megawatts. The plant, which began producing electrical energy in 1936, has generated more than 174 billion kilowatt hours of electricity. The plant is still one of the world's largest and provides electricity to Arizona, southern California and Nevada. An $11 million contract was awarded for the construction of flow control facilities, tanks, and a chlorination station for the Second Stage of the Southern Nevada Water Project. Solar/Hydro Integration The findings of a joint study by the Department of Energy and the Water and Power Resources Service on the concept of tying a large solar powerplant to an existing hydroelectric system was transmitted to Congress in a report entitled "Solar / Hydro Integration". The report recommends further study of a potential 100 megawatt solar power tower to be located near Yuma, Arizona, which would be tied to the hydroelectric powerplants of Hoover, Parker and Davis Dams. The study indicates that the solar powerplant could be integrated with the hydroelectric power plants without adversely affecHng downstream water users. Public Law 96-375, authorizing legislation for further investigation, was passed on October 11, 1980, but no funds were appropriated. Lower Colorado River and Imperial Irrigation District Water Conservation Programs The Water and Power Resources Service initiated two investigations entitled "Lower Colorado River Water Conservation and Efficient Use Program, Arizona-California- Nevada-Utah" and "Water Conservation Opportunities, Imperial Irrigation District, California". These two programs were an extension of a reconnaissance investigation undertaken by the former Bureau of Reclamation and the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and reported on in their report, "Water Conservation Opportunities Study", September 1978. In that report, the Colorado River Indian Reservation, the Reservation and Valley Divisions of the Yuma Project, and the Imperial Irrigation District were identified as having potentials for water conservation. The Board's staff is participating in these studies by serving on the several work groups that have been formed to assist the Service in the planning and conduct of the investigations. Lower Colorado River Emerging Energy Study The Water and Power Resources Service initiated the "Lower Colorado River Emerging Energy Study" which is being conducted by the Service under contract to the Water Resources Council. The objectives of the study are to estimate the water requirements and impacts resulting from the development of potential 18 geothermal, low-head hydroelectric, solar-electric, pumped storage, and coal gasification technologies. Lower Colorado River Management Program The Federal-State Lower Colorado River Management Program Work Group met two times during 1980 to continue coordination of problems of river control, channelization, and environmental preservation and enhancement. The function of this Work Group has been described in the Colorado River Board's previous Annual Reports. During 1980, study continued by the Work Group and the Water and Power Resources Service of the need for clearing the vegetation-covered floodplain of the Colorado River near Yuma, Arizona. A habitat evaluation study was used to devise several alternative methods of strip clearing for the purpose of increasing channel conveyance capacity while at the same time leaving some undisturbed habitat. The Service initiated an extensive public involvement program including all public and private entities in the area. During the latter part of 1980, several public meetings were held to obtain the concerns of various entities regarding six alternative channelization plans to be used for preparation of an environmental impact statement. This statement, required before construction can begin, is planned to be completed in 1981. Work on channel stabilization studies also continued in the Parker II Division, with experience gained in the Yuma Division in wildlife habitat evaluation being applied to alternative channelization plans in this division where high reservoir releases caused problems of riverbank cutting and caused silting of the Palo Verde Irrigation District's distribution system. Much of the habitat baseline study work will be contracted to consultants. Because of high Colorado River flows below Hoover Dam in 1980, the u.s. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed diversion of surplus ( I ~