WSP00614

• File Number: 8220.101.10.D
• Description: Glen Canyon Dam/Lake Powell
• State: AZ
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Date: 8/30/1994
• Title: CWCB Agenda Item 17‎(d)‎ - Sept. 13-14-1994-Board Meeting - Glen Canyon Operations - Spike Flow Issues
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Board Memo

Colorado Water Conservation Board

Department of Natural Resources

721 State Centennial Building
1313 Sherman Street
Denver. Colorado 80203
Phone [phone]
FAX [phone]

STATE OF COLORADO

o

Roy Romer
Governor

MEMORANDUM

James S. Lochhead
Executive Director, DNR

Daries C. Lile, P.E.
Director, CWCB

TO:

Colorado Water Conservation Board Members
Chuck Lile ~r

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FROM:

DATE: August 30, 1994

SUBJECT: Agenda Item 17(d), September 13-14, 1994, Board Meeting --
Glen Canyon Operations - Spike Flow Issues

Presently the proposed spike flow release from Glen Canyon Dam is planned for in April 1995, and
the annual Operating Plan for the Colorado River and Glen Canyon Dam is being designed to allow
for the moving of a block of water into April. This means that beginning in October 1994
adjustment will be made in the amount of releases from Lake Powell on a monthly basis to
accumulate enough water for the release in April.

We still continue to raise opposition to the release for two reasons: 1) we believe, and the Attorney
General's Office concurs, as well as several of the basin states and the power users that this release
is a violation of the Law of the River, and 2) that there will be severe environmental impacts in the
Grand Canyon to endangered species as well as other Canyon resources which have not been fully
analyzed, nor has the Bureau of Reclamation met proper NEP A and ESA compliance.

At the cooperating agency meeting recently held in Phoenix, the Bureau's attorney, Robert Moller,
reported in his opinion that the release was legal, but that he has advised his client that a legal
determination through the court process was not without a down side and that it was not necessarily
a given that they would prevail. He did not issue a formal written legal opinion.

Additionally, staff of the U.S.B.R. reported that there will not be enough water in Lake Powell under
present hydrological forecast to allow for an elevation in the reservoir sufficient for release from the
spillway gate, and consequently the bypass amount would need to be in the range of 42,000 cfs,
rather than 52,000 cfs. This raised an issue as to the value of the data being collected since the flow
would be less, however, 42,000 cfs would still exceed the 32,000 cfs capacity of the power plant.