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<br />During water year 1998, Lake Mead is expected to rise to elevation 3687 meters (120948 feet)
<br />by the end of February, 1998, with 29.996 MCM (24,318 MAF) in storage, which is 94% of
<br />conservation capacity of31,919 MCM (25,877 MAF), Lake Mead elevation will drop to 365,]
<br />meters (119842 feet) by the end of June, 1998, with 27,986 MCM (22,688 MAF) in storage
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<br />Flood control releases are projected under the most probable scenario in January 1998 at the
<br />19,000 cfs level. There are flood control releases for February and March, 1998, but they are
<br />below downstream requirements, Hoover Dam is expected to release 13,691 MCM (11,1 MAF)
<br />during water year 1998, Downstream demands are expected to be about 13,198 MCM (10,7
<br />MAF) for water year 1998,
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<br />No flood control releases are anticipated under the minimum probable scenario, Under the
<br />maximum probable, flood control releases are required January through July, 1998, January's
<br />required release is 30,000 cfs, February through May are at the 28,000 cfs level, June is above
<br />the 19,000 cfs level and July's required release is below downstream requirements, Space
<br />building is required from September through December, 1998,
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<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,
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<br />As Lake Mead remains near capacity and flood control releases are required by the Hoover Dam
<br />Flood Control Regulations, consideration will be given to making these releases over the fall and
<br />winter months to avoid high flow releases during the January through July runoff season, This
<br />distribution of water reduces the chance of bypassing hydroelectric powerplants below Hoover
<br />Dam and avoids the adverse impacts of higher flood control releases on fish and wildlife,
<br />recreation, water quality, and river stabilization,
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<br />Lakes Mohave and Havasu
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<br />Mohave and Havasu Reservoirs are scheduled to be drawn down in the late summer and winter
<br />months to provide storage space for local stonn runoff and will be filled in the spring to meet
<br />higher summer water needs, This drawdown will also correspond with maintenance at both
<br />Davis and Parker Powerplants which is scheduled for September through February, The nonnal
<br />filling pattern of these two reservoirs coincides well with the fishery spawning period, Since
<br />lake elevations will be typical of previous years, nonnal conditions are expected for boating and
<br />other recreational uses,
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<br />Reclamation is the lead agency in the Native Fish Work Group, a multi-agency group of
<br />scientists attempting to augment the aging stock of the endangered razorback sucker in Lake
<br />Mohave, Larval suckers are captured by hand in and around spawning areas in late winter and
<br />early spring for rearing at Willow Beach Fish Hatchery below Hoover Dam,' The following year.
<br />one year old suckers are placed into predator-free, lake-side backwaters for rearing through the
<br />spring and summer. When the lake is nonnally drawn down during the fall, these fish are
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<br />September 3, 1997
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