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<br />II. !2P.erational factor" <br /> <br />A. Introduction. <br /> <br />Tile current and future operationa of the Colorndo River <br />reservoirs are determined by in"titutional constraInt., lrydroloRic <br />fnctor", and the purpose" for which the projects are authorIzed, <br />constructed, anu operated. <br /> <br />The Institutional fsctors that arfect the day-to-day op~ratiun <br />of the Colorado River reaervoirs include the Colorado laver Compact, <br />the Mexicnn I_ateI' Treaty, and the OperatinJ( CriterIa, as discussed <br />in Chapter I. <br /> <br />B. I1vdrolop,y. <br /> <br />1. forecasts. The planned and actual operatIons of Colorado River <br />reservoirs' are dependent upon inflow from precipitation and snowmelt <br />from the high mountain areas. forecaats of April-July inflow to <br />fontenelle, Flaming (;orge, Blue ?1esa, and Navajo reservoirs as "ell as <br />Glen Canyon and Lake Mead reservo1rs are made on the fIrst of each month, <br />startinp, January and continuing throuch June. The forecasts are based <br />on the sno"'Pack, water content at about 60 snow courses and JO <br />precipitation atations in the Colorado River Basins. <br /> <br />2. I,'nrer Releases - Lake Powell. The I1\RjorIty of inflow into <br />Lake Head Is rer.ulated by Lake powell hehind r:len Canyon Dam. <br />Eer.u1ation of WElter released from Lake PmH'.11 1R in ncr:.()rdfll1C(~ wj th <br />the Colorado River Compact and criterJa for coordinnted lonr,--r.'ln!'c <br />operation of Colorado River reservoir". A" of the h(>r.ll1ni,,~. of 1~75, <br />Lake Pm.Jell content is lesa than Lake Head cOI1t.ent; therefore, n minimuTll <br />of 8,230,000 <Icre-feet is being scheduled for release to the Lower ~asin. <br /> <br />J. ~.rater Demand I Timing, and Uses--LotJcr Basin. In the ah:>cnce <br />of flood control and river regulation considerations, all releas"R from <br />Lake Head ate to supply downstream water orders. Approximately <br />8.5 million acre-feet of water are used for IrrIp,ation and domestic <br />requirements in the IOlJer Colorado River valleys in the united States <br />and Hexico, Imperial and Coachella Valleys, and in 13 incorporated cities <br />and lsrge unincorporated areas in southern California. <br /> <br />12 <br />