Laserfiche WebLink
<br />. <br /> <br />~,\ <br />N <br />~ <br />~ <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />PART II <br /> <br />DESCRIPTION OF BASIN <br /> <br />The flDW at variDus pDints in the CDlDradD River Basin fDr the <br />1941-83 periDd is given in Tables 1 thrDugh 20 at the end Df this <br />repDrt. The recDrds of flDW depict characteristic-wide fluctuatiDns <br />month to mDnth and considerable variatiDn year to' year. The storage <br />reservDirs now reduce SDme of the fluctuation in the reaches below <br />the major dams. <br /> <br />C. Reservoir StDrage <br /> <br />Wet and dry cycles have played a significant role in bringing about <br />the development Df the ColoradO' River Reservoir cDmplex. In the past, <br />the annual flow of the river has varied from less than 6 million acre- <br />feet to over 20 million acre-feet per year. The reservDir system allows <br />storage Df sufficient water to maintain the flows of the river to' meet <br />downstream needs during dry periods. <br /> <br />The construction and filling Df the main stem reservoirs of the <br />Colorado River Basin have brought about significant changes in the flow <br />patterns of the river. In addition to the major reservoirs, numerous <br />smaller reservoirs have been built on many o-f the tributaries. Since <br />major storage began with Lake Mead in 1935 and concluded with the fill- <br />ing of Lake Powell in 1980, the Colorado River Basin reservoirs now have <br />a combined storage capacity equal to apprDximately four times the total <br />average annual virgin (undepleted) flow of the entire Colorado River. <br /> <br />The flows of the San Juan River are cDntrolled by the NavajO' Dam, <br />the Green River by Fontenelle and Flaming Gorge Dams, and the Gunnison <br />River by the Wayne N. Aspinall Unit Dams. Glen Canyon Dam is the only <br />major dam on the main stem of the ColoradO' above Lee Ferry, but it will <br />permit cDntrDl Df almDst all flDWS leaving the Upper Basin. <br /> <br />Lake Mead, fDrmed by HDover Dam, prDvides most Df the storage and <br />regulatiDn in the Lower CDlDradD River Basin, prDviding for irrigatiDn, <br />municipal and industrial (M&I) uses, power generation, flDDd cDntrDl, <br />recreation, and other beneficial uses. <br /> <br />Lake MDhave, the reservDi r fDrmed by Davis Dam, backs water at <br />high stages about 67 miles upstream to the tailrace Df Hoover PDwer- <br />plant. StDrage in Lake MDhave is used for SDme reregulatiDn of releases <br />from Hoover Dam, for meeting treaty requirements with Mexico, and for <br />develDping power head fDr the prDduction of electrical energy at Davis <br />Powerplant. The river flows through a natural channel fDr abDut 10 <br />miles belDw Davis Dam at which point the river enters the brDad MDhave . <br />Valley 33 miles above the upper end Df Lake Havasu. <br /> <br />Lake Havasu backs up behind Parker Dam for abDut 45 miles and <br />serveS as a fDrebay frDm which the Metropolitan Water District Df <br />SDuthern CalifDrnia pumps water intO' the ColDradD River Aqueduct. Lake <br />Havasu also serves as fDrebay for the Central ArizDna PrDject pumping <br />plants and aqueducts. Lake Havasu and AlamO' Oam and ReservDir, Dn the <br /> <br />9 <br />