WSP07895

• File Number: 8027
• Description: Section D General Correspondence - Federal Agencies - US DOI-BOR - Region 4
• State: CO
• Basin: Statewide
• Date: 5/1/1967
• Author: DOI-BOR
• Title: Report by the BOR to the CWCB - Region 4
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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This forecast compares with 4.6 million acre-feet received for the same

period last year and the long-time average of 8.5 million acre-feet.

The total available storage in Colorado River reservoirs at present

is about 24 1/2 million acre-feet, or enough to meet downstream needs

for about 3 years if there were no additional inflow.

In the Lower Colorado River Basin, Lake Mead behind Hoover Dam is

presently at elevation 1,131.5 feet m.s.l. or about one foot lower than

at this time last year. The reservoir contains 14 1/2 million acre-feet

of storage or 100,000 acre-feet less than a year ago and about 55 percent

of its capacity. Water releases through the Hoover powerplant turbines

during the next year will approximate 8 million acre-feet, which is the

amount necessary to meet downstream irrigation, municipa~ and industrial

req,uirements. During this time Lake Mead will be replenished by daily

releases from Lake Powell.
I
~ Lake Powell behind Glen Canyon Dam is now at its minimum level for

the season but will begin to rise as soon as the spring runoff gets under-

way. It is expected to reach elevation 3,531 feet m.s.l. by next July

(about 23 feet above its present level but 15 feet below last year's all-

time high).

Flaming Gorge Reservoir on the Green River, with an anticipated near

average inflow of 1,170,000 acre-feet during April-July (about the same

as last year), is expected to rise about 24 feet from its present eleva-

tion of 5,991 feet m.s.l. to reach a total storage of 2,840,000 acre-feet

in July. Although normal power demands will reduce the reservoir I s level

this fall and winter, the net increase will be about 200,000 acre-feet or

a rise in level of approximately 7 feet.

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