Reclamation and Hoover Dam It’s All About The Water

The Bureau of Reclamation Created by Congress in 1902 (Reclamation Act) Historic Mission: Develop water projects to “reclaim” arid western lands for irrigated farming. The concept of “homemaking” was integral to Reclamation’s early projects, i.e., homes would be made for settlers on new, irrigated farms. Mission now expanded to include water development for municipal and industrial use, flood control, generation of hydroelectric power, and recreation

Reclamation Regions

The Colorado River Basin

Reclamation Is The Largest Water Resource Management Agency In The Western U.S. 348 reservoirs in 17 western states 30 million acre-feet delivered annually Serve water to: One-third of the West’s irrigated agriculture More than 31 million people 90 million visitors

Water Conversion Terms 1 acre-foot (af) of water is enough to cover one acre of land one foot deep. 1 acre =.004 square km 1 af of water = 43,560 cubic feet = 325,900 gallons 1 af of water = million liters = megaliters We deliver annually: 9.5 MAF = 117,135,000 megaliters

Lower Colorado Region Reclamation involved in what is now the Region since 1903 with the authorization of the Salt River Project. Area Offices: Phoenix and Yuma, AZ Temecula, CA Lower Colorado Dams Office (Hoover)

Lower Colorado Region Major Facilities Lake Mead – Hoover Dam –Storage capacity of 28.5 maf –Generation capacity of 2079 MW Lake Mohave – Davis Dam –Storage capacity 1.8 maf –Generation capacity 48 MW Lake Havasu – Parker Dam –Storage capacity 646,000 af –Generation capacity 120 MW Lake Mead Lake Mohave Lake Havasu Davis Dam Hoover Dam Parker Dam

Why was the Hoover Dam built? 1.Flood Control 2.Water Delivery 3.Energy production 4.Recreation

Deliver 9 MAF of water annually for California, Arizona, Nevada and Mexico Municipal water for 23 million people and 2.5 million acres of ag Power – Could Produce 4.2 billion kWh annually Flood Control – Dams have prevented $ 1.1 billion in damage since 1950 Hoover Dam

December 21st the Boulder Canyon Project Act is signed; becomes effective June Authorized spending of $165,000,000 to build Boulder Dam and the All American Canal. Main purpose was flood control, followed by improved navigation, irrigation, municipal and industrial usage, and the generation of electricity Six of seven basin states approve Colorado River Compact. 7.5 MAF each to Upper and Lower Colorado River Basin. Lower Colorado River Laws

Boulder Canyon Project Act of 1928 Ratified the Colorado River Compact Made the Secretary of the Interior ‘Watermaster’ California = 4.4 MAF Annually Arizona = 2.8 MAF Annually Nevada = 300,000 AF Annual ( Population of Nevada in 1928 was 8000 ) 1 Acre-Foot = 1 acre (.004 km) that is 1 foot (.3 mtrs) deep in water. (1.233 megaliters)

Filling Lake Mead Dam starts to impound water on February 1, Last concrete is placed on top of dam on May 29, (Two years after start on June 6, 1933) 1936 – The first generator to go online is N2 on October 26th. Other generators follow in November (N4) and December (N1).

Colorado River Management Objectives. Provide flood control and river regulation Provide water for consumptive use Generate hydropower

Colorado River Management Objectives Provide recreation for over 1 million visitors annually

Colorado River Management Objectives Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program Enhance and maintain ecosystem habitat Recover and protect endangered species

COLORADO RIVER ISSUES Water Supply Drought driest 15-year period in 100 years of record keeping Powell and Mead both affected Lower Basin Shortage? Hoover Power?

Colorado River Basin Storage (as of April 5, 2015) *Total system storage was maf or 49% this time last year

Water Year Snowpack and Precipitation as of April 4, 2016 Colorado River Basin above Lake Powell Water Year 2016 Precipitation (year-to-date) 94% of average Current Snowpack 95% of median

State of the System (Water Years ) 1

Lower SNWA Intake 1,000 ft 1,083 ft maf (39% of Live Capacity) 895 ft Dead Pool Elevation Lake Mead Capacity 1,219.6 ft 26.1 maf Dead Pool (2.5 maf) Inactive Pool (7.7 maf) Not to scale 137 ft As of Apr 12, ,145 ft 33 ft 1,075 ft Shortage Conditions 1,050 ft Surplus Conditions Normal or ICS Surplus Conditions Min Power Pool 16.2 maf

Current Conditions Currently at 95% of average snowpack Forecast 8.23 to 9 maf release of water from Lake Powell to Lake Mead in 2015 Lake Mead down 135 feet (31.15 mtrs) Will drop an additional 12 feet in % chance of AZ, NV shortage in % chance of shortage in 2017

Lower Basin Surplus & Shortage through Reservoir initial conditions based on the observed levels on December 31, Hydrologic inflow traces based on resampling of the observed natural flow record from

Opportunities: Conservation Water re-use and recycling Desalinization International cooperation

Questions? USBR - Lower Colorado Region Also on FB, YouTube, Twitter, Pinterest, Tumblr and Instagram