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<br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br /> <br />During water year 1998, Lake Mead is expected to rise to elevation 368.7 meters (1209.48 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 365.3 <br />meters (1198.42 feet) by the end of June, 1998, with 27,986 MCM (22.688 MAF) in storage. <br /> <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. <br /> <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 bdow downstream requirements. Space <br />building is required from September through December, 1998. <br /> <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. <br /> <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. <br /> <br />Lakes Mohave and Havasu <br /> <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 storm 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 normal <br />filling pattern of these two reservoirs coincides well with the fishery spawning period. Since <br />lake elevations will be typical of previous years, normal conditions are expected for boating and <br />other recreational uses. <br /> <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 />. <br />spring and summer. When the lake is normally drawn down during the fall, these fish are <br /> <br />13 <br />