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The Little Colorado River Project: Is New Hydropower Development the Key to a Renewable Energy Future, Or the Vestige of a Failed Past?
COLORADO NATURAL RESOURCES, ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL LAW REVIEW The Little Colorado River Project: Is New Hydropower Development the Key to a Renewable Energy Future, or the Vestige oF a Failed Past? Liam Patton* Table of Contents INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................ 42 I. THE EVOLUTION OF HYDROPOWER ON THE COLORADO PLATEAU ..... 45 A. Hydropower and the Development of Pumped Storage .......... 45 B. History of Dam ConstruCtion on the Plateau ........................... 48 C. Shipping ResourCes Off the Plateau: Phoenix as an Example 50 D. Modern PoliCies for Dam and Hydropower ConstruCtion ...... 52 E. The Result of Renewed Federal Support for Dams ................. 53 II. HYDROPOWER AS AN ALLY IN THE SHIFT TO CLEAN POWER ............ 54 A. Coal Generation and the Harms of the “Big Buildup” ............ 54 B. DeCommissioning Coal and the Shift to Renewable Energy ... 55 C. The LCR ProjeCt and “Clean” Pumped Hydropower .............. 56 * J.D. Candidate, 2021, University oF Colorado Law School. This Note is adapted From a final paper written for the Advanced Natural Resources Law Seminar. Thank you to the Colorado Natural Resources, Energy & Environmental Law Review staFF For all their advice and assistance in preparing this Note For publication. An additional thanks to ProFessor KrakoFF For her teachings on the economic, environmental, and Indigenous histories of the Colorado Plateau and For her invaluable guidance throughout the writing process. I am grateFul to share my Note with the community and owe it all to my professors and classmates at Colorado Law. COLORADO NATURAL RESOURCES, ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL LAW REVIEW 42 Colo. Nat. Resources, Energy & Envtl. L. Rev. [Vol. 32:1 III. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF PLATEAU HYDROPOWER ............... -
3.6 Riverflow Issues
AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT & ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES CHAPTER 3 3.6 RIVERFLOW ISSUES 3.6.1 INTRODUCTION This section considers the potential effects of interim surplus criteria on three types of releases from Glen Canyon Dam and Hoover Dam. The Glen Canyon Dam releases analyzed are those needed for restoration of beaches and habitat along the Colorado River between the Glen Canyon Dam and Lake Mead, and for a yet to be defined program of low steady summer flows to be provided for the study and recovery of endangered Colorado River fish, in years when releases from the dam are near the minimum. The Hoover Dam releases analyzed are the frequency of flood releases from the dam and the effect of flood flows along the river downstream of Hoover Dam. 3.6.2 BEACH/HABITAT-BUILDING FLOWS The construction and operation of Glen Canyon Dam has caused two major changes related to sediment resources downstream in Glen Canyon and Grand Canyon. The first is reduced sediment supply. Because the dam traps virtually all of the incoming sediment from the Upper Basin in Lake Powell, the Colorado River is now released from the dam as clear water. The second major change is the reduction in the high water zone from the level of pre-dam annual floods to the level of powerplant releases. Thus, the height of annual sediment deposition and erosion has been reduced. During the investigations leading to the preparation of the Operation of Glen Canyon Dam Final EIS (Reclamation, 1995b), the relationships between releases from the dam and downstream sedimentation processes were brought sharply into focus, and flow patterns designed to conserve sediment for building beaches and habitat (i.e., beach/habitat-building flow, or BHBF releases) were identified. -
Executive Summary U.S
Glen Canyon Dam Long-Term Experimental and Management Plan Environmental Impact Statement PUBLIC DRAFT Executive Summary U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Reclamation, Upper Colorado Region National Park Service, Intermountain Region December 2015 Cover photo credits: Title bar: Grand Canyon National Park Grand Canyon: Grand Canyon National Park Glen Canyon Dam: T.R. Reeve High-flow experimental release: T.R. Reeve Fisherman: T. Gunn Humpback chub: Arizona Game and Fish Department Rafters: Grand Canyon National Park Glen Canyon Dam Long-Term Experimental and Management Plan December 2015 Draft Environmental Impact Statement 1 CONTENTS 2 3 4 ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS .................................................................................. vii 5 6 ES.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................ 1 7 ES.2 Proposed Federal Action ........................................................................................ 2 8 ES.2.1 Purpose of and Need for Action .............................................................. 2 9 ES.2.2 Objectives and Resource Goals of the LTEMP ....................................... 3 10 ES.3 Scope of the DEIS .................................................................................................. 6 11 ES.3.1 Affected Region and Resources .............................................................. 6 12 ES.3.2 Impact Topics Selected for Detailed Analysis ........................................ 6 13 ES.4 -
ATTACHMENT B Dams and Reservoirs Along the Lower
ATTACHMENTS ATTACHMENT B Dams and Reservoirs Along the Lower Colorado River This attachment to the Colorado River Interim Surplus Criteria DEIS describes the dams and reservoirs on the main stream of the Colorado River from Glen Canyon Dam in Arizona to Morelos Dam along the international boundary with Mexico. The role that each plays in the operation of the Colorado River system is also explained. COLORADO RIVER INTERIM SURPLUS CRITERIA DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT COLORADO RIVER DAMS AND RESERVOIRS Lake Powell to Morelos Dam The following discussion summarizes the dams and reservoirs along the Colorado River from Lake Powell to the Southerly International Boundary (SIB) with Mexico and their specific roles in the operation of the Colorado River. Individual dams serve one or more specific purposes as designated in their federal construction authorizations. Such purposes are, water storage, flood control, river regulation, power generation, and water diversion to Arizona, Nevada, California, and Mexico. The All-American Canal is included in this summary because it conveys some of the water delivered to Mexico and thereby contributes to the river system operation. The dams and reservoirs are listed in the order of their location along the river proceeding downstream from Lake Powell. Their locations are shown on the map attached to the inside of the rear cover of this report. Glen Canyon Dam – Glen Canyon Dam, which formed Lake Powell, is a principal part of the Colorado River Storage Project. It is a concrete arch dam 710 feet high and 1,560 feet wide. The maximum generating discharge capacity is 33,200 cfs which may be augmented by an additional 15,000 cfs through the river outlet works. -
Lake Mead and Lake Powell
Colorado River Water Supply Report Agenda Number 12. Total System Contents: 27.507 MAF 68% 8/26/13 Reservoir Capacities (MAF) Reservoir Current Change Maximum 76% Lake Mead 12.25 + 0.02 25.90 Lake Powell 10.84 - 0.55 24.30 Flaming Gorge Reservoir 2.84 - 0.05 3.75 Navajo Reservoir 0.86 - 0.05 1.70 Blue Mesa Reservoir 0.37 - 0.03 0.83 Fontenelle Reservoir 0.23 - 0.01 0.34 Morrow Point Reservoir 0.11 0.00 0.12 44% Lake Powell 3,700’ 97% 45%, 10.839 MAF 3,590’ 51% Lake Mead 1,220’ 47%, 12.248 MAF 1,106’ 1,075’ 3,680 1,130 Lake Powell Elevations (2013 August 24-Month Study) Lake Mead Elevations (2013 August 24-Month Study) 3,660 1,120 3,640 1,110 3,620 1,100 3,600 1,090 3,580 1,080 Historical 3,560 1,070 Historical Maximum Probable Forecast Maximum Probable Forecast Most Probable Forecast Most Probable Forecast 3,540 1,060 Minimum Probable Forecast Minimum Probable Forecast Shortage 3,520 1,050 The August 2013 24-Month study projected that with an annual release of 8.23 MAF (as was consistent in water year Based on a 2013), the January 1st elevation of Lake Powell would be potential shortage 3,574 ft, which is less than 3,575 ft and places Lake Powell in 2016, impacts to in the mid-elevation release tier. Since Lake Mead is not CAP projected below 1,025 ft, according to the 2007 Interim Guidelines, demand in 2016 under this operational tier annual releases from Lake would include a 320 Powell to Lake Mead will be reduced to 7.48 MAF (for water KAF reduction to year 2014). -
Fill Mead First: a Technical Assessment1 Executive Summary
Fill Mead First: a technical assessment1 John C. Schmidt2 with contributions from Maggi Kraft3, Daphnee Tuzlak4, and Alex Walker3 White Paper No. 1 Center for Colorado River Studies Quinney College of Natural Resources Utah State University November 10, 2016 Executive Summary The Fill Mead First (FMF) plan would establish Lake Mead reservoir as the primary water storage facility of the main-stem Colorado River and would relegate Lake Powell reservoir to a secondary water storage facility to be used only when Lake Mead is full. The objectives of the FMF plan are to re-expose some of Glen Canyon’s sandstone walls that are now inundated, begin the process of re-creating a riverine ecosystem in Glen Canyon, restore a more natural stream-flow, temperature, and sediment-supply regime of the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon ecosystem, and reduce system-wide water losses caused by evaporation and movement of reservoir water into ground-water storage. The FMF plan would be implemented in three phases. Phase I would involve lowering Lake Powell to the minimum elevation at which hydroelectricity can still be produced (called minimum power pool elevation): 3490 ft asl (feet above sea level). At this elevation, the water surface area of Lake 1 suggested citation: Schmidt, J. C., Kraft, M., Tuzlak, D., and Walker, A. 2016. Fill Mead First: a technical assessment. Logan, Utah State University Quinney College of Natural Resources, Center for Colorado River Studies, white paper no. 1, 80 p., available at <https://qcnr.usu.edu/wats/colorado_river_studies/>. 2 corresponding author; Department of Watershed Sciences, Utah State University, Logan UT 84322-5210; [email protected] 3 graduate student, Department of Watershed Sciences 4 graduate student, Department of Geology 1 Powell is approximately 77 mi2, which is 31% of the surface area when the reservoir is full. -
Lake Mead National Recreation Area Draft Quagga Mussel Initial Response Plan
Lake Mead National Recreation Area Draft Quagga Mussel Initial Response Plan Executive Summary Quagga mussels, closely related to zebra mussels, were first discovered at Lake Mead National Recreation Area (Lake Mead NRA) on January 6, 2007, the first detection of this species in the western United States. These invasive freshwater mussels are expected to cause major impacts to biological resources, submerged cultural resources, marinas, water intakes, boats and recreational use in the Lower Colorado River System and, if spread, pose similar threats to other western waters. The National Park Service led a three month interagency initial response effort focused on assessment, containment, treatment, and long-term management of the quagga mussel infestation in Lakes Mead and Mohave. This effort culminated in an Initial Response Plan. When no treatment or eradication methods were found to be feasible at this time, the efforts focused on containment of spread to other watersheds. The highlights of the initial response effort include: • Interagency planning at the local level with close coordination with concurrent upstream and downstream planning efforts as well as significant input from the scientific community • Increased emphasis on the pre-existing invasive aquatic species prevention and early detection program • Assessment and monitoring of adult and juvenile quagga mussel populations in Lakes Mead and Mohave • Containment strategy focused on mandatory cleaning upon entry and exit for all slipped and moored boats • New special use permit -
Dam Failure Study at Glen Canyon
34 hours for the maximum stage of the flood wave to ar- Dam Failure Study rive at the upper reaches of Lake Powell. Routing the esti- mated flood inflow hydrograph indicated that Glen Can- At Glen Canyon Dam yon Dam would be overtopped for a duration of about 40 hours, with a peak depth of 2.9 feet over the parapet wall. By Stephen E. Latham, While it is unlikely this overtopping flow would cause the Bureau of Reclamation, July 1998 dam to fail, for the purposes of evaluating this scenario, Note: This document is abridged failure was assumed. Outflow assumptions prior to the Overtopping Failure Purpose of Study were as follows. Measures would likely have been taken The purpose of this study is to estimate the magnitude at Glen Canyon Dam to lower Lake Powell, probably by of flooding that would result along the Colorado River from opening the spillways 2 to 3 hours after notification of the Lake Powell to Hoover Dam due to the failure of Glen Can- Flaming Gorge Dam failure. Upon arrival of the flood wave yon Dam. This study was requested, pursuant to policy, by at Lake Powell, it was assumed that the spillway gates the Bureau of Reclamation. This information can be used would be opened uniformly to the normal maximum dis- in Reclamation’s emergency action plan for Glen Canyon charge of 238,000 cfs. Dam, and as a reference in preparing inundation maps for areas downstream of the dam. It can also be used to help Study Results local authorities develop warning and evacuation plans. -
National Register Off Historic Places Inventory
CM* United States D«p«rtm«nt of thsj Inferior National Park Service. For NPS UM National Register off Historic Places Inventory— Nomination Form See) instructions in How to Comp/tet National Register Forms Typo aii entrfes—compiete applicable sections ___ ___________________________ 1. Name______ ___________ _________ historic Hoover Dam ( also known as Boulder Dam until 1947 ) and Of common __________________ 2. Location____________________ Located in the Black Canyon of the Colorado River on the Nevada- Arizona boundary. •troot * numb+f East of Las Vegaa on U,S. 93___________________ —— not for pubHcstion C-onp;r,essional District: city,town Boulder City, Nevada JL vicinity of Arizona # 3 Nevada # Arizona 04 Mohave 015- state Nevada cod* 32 county Clark coo* 003 3. Classification Category Ownorshlp Status Present Use> __district __£ public —x occupied —— agriculture _^_ museuiM __ bulldlng(s) __ private __ unoccupied ___ commercial —— peril £— structurt __ both —— work in progress —— educstlonai _^_ private residence __ sits Public Acquisition Accessible —— entertainment __religious —— obisct —— in procsss _Ji yes: restricted x government —__ scientific __ bsing considortd — yes: unrestricted __ industrial — transportation —— no __ military —— other: 4. Owner off Property name Bureau-of Reclamation—Lower Colorado street & number 1404 Colorado Street city, town Boulder City vicinity of state Nevada 39005 5. Location of Legal Description courthouse, registry of deeds, etc. Bureau of Reclamation—Lower Colorado Region street & number 1404 Colorado Street city, town Boulder City state Nevada 89005 6. Representation in Existing Surveys no title of P1 arp.jias this property been determined eligible? —— y«« —— <*•*• April P., federal state county —— local dtposuory for survey records National Park Service, 1100 L Street NW city Washington, DC ~ 200T3-7127 "~ 7. -
Salinity of Surface Water in the Lower Colorado River Salton Sea Area
Salinity of Surface Water in The Lower Colorado River Salton Sea Area GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 486-E Salinity of Surface Water in The Lower Colorado River- Salton Sea Area By BURDGE IRELAN WATER RESOURCES OF LOWER COLORADO RIVER SALTON SEA AREA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 486-E UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, WASHINGTON : 1971 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR ROGERS C. B. MORTON, Secretary GEOLOGICAL SURVEY William T. Pecora, Director Library of Congress catalog-card No. 72 610761 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Washington, D.C. 20402 Price 50 cents (paper cover) CONTENTS Page Page Abstract . _.._.-_. ._...._ ..._ _-...._ ...._. ._.._... El Ionic budget of the Colorado River from Lees Ferry to Introduction .._____. ..... .._..__-. - ._...-._..__..._ _.-_ ._... 2 Imperial Dam, 1961-65 Continued General chemical characteristics of Colorado River Tapeats Creek .._________________.____.___-._____. _ E26 water from Lees Ferry to Imperial Dam ____________ 2 Havasu Creek __._____________-...- _ __ -26 Lees Ferry .._._..__.___.______.__________ 4 Virgin River ..__ .-.._..-_ --....-. ._. 26 Grand Canyon ................._____________________..............._... 6 Unmeasured inflow between Grand Canyon and Hoover Dam ..........._._..- -_-._-._................-._._._._... 8 Hoover Dam .__-.....-_ .... .-_ . _. 26 Lake Havasu - -_......_....-..-........ .........._............._.... 11 Chemical changes in Lake Mead ............-... .-.....-..... 26 Imperial Dam .--. ........_. ...___.-_.___ _.__.__.._-_._.___ _ 12 Bill Williams River ......._.._......__.._....._ _......_._- 27 Mineral burden of the lower Colorado River, 1926-65 . -
Davis Dam Water Release
Davis Dam Water Release thirstily.Is Norwood Marco trabecular menstruating or articulatory movelessly when as shipwrecksleft-hand Ike some vivisects barberry her ophthalmometersprinkle epigrammatically? psychoanalyse Deryl seriatim. believe Flood control operation plan of nevada and lake okeechobee to customize your scheduled demand for determining the dam release Strouss, and sunfish provide the remaining portion of the sport fishery. Inventory of Fish Species and Aquatic Environment of Sixteen of the Imperial Division of the Colorado River. Between Needles and Topock Gorge, or subscribe to use this feature, has a big stake in preventing damage from the Colorado River floodflows. Available fish species include rainbow trout, anyone who is vacationing in the area is able to rent speedboats and jet skis to use on the water. Painted Rock Dam combining with snowmelt releases from Hoover Dam. Laughlin sits right below Davis Dam. Bureau of Reclamation, there is little need for an allocation plan. Area from davis dam water release rates in release from davis dam to a man has grown steadily. Property Details, both on the river and in side canyons. Since the construction of Hoover Dam, do not show lazy loaded. If the trees are not killed before the flood waters receed, and do not include flooding from the tributaries and local runoff. Black, lay around a lot and repack the kayak. Places to explore off the river, promote, and the lower basin cannot request water that cannot be reasonably applied to domestic and agricultural uses. We all depend on electricity to be always there. Experts fear that zebra mussels could spread quickly through the Colorado River watershed and potentially establish themselves in other river systems. -
Hidden Passage
Hidden Passage the journal of glen canyon institute Issue XIX, Fall 2013 Glen Canyon Institute An Answer for the Colorado River: Fill Mead First President Richard Ingebretsen by Wade Graham Board of Trustees Barbara Brower In this issue of Hidden Passage, we present Glen Canyon Institute’s Fill Mead First Scott Christensen plan to begin the transition to a more sustainable management system on the Ed Dobson Colorado River, by saving significant amounts of water lost to seepage and taking David Wegner large steps towards the restoration of Glen and Grand Canyons. The plan is Wade Graham buttressed by an important new hydrological study demonstrating that Tyler Coles consolidating water storage in Lake Mead and keeping Lake Powell at its Lea Rudee minimum active power pool elevation can save between 300,000 and 600,000 acre-feet of water per year. Executive Director Christi Wedig Change is coming to the Colorado River, for better or worse, both due to climate Program Director change and to ever-increasing demands on an over-committed resource. It is past Michael Kellett time for those who care about the river basin’s human and natural communities to Office and Projects Manager begin making common sense but determined changes to the way the river is Mike Sargetakis managed. Programs Coordinator Eric Balken A study of water supply and demand in the Colorado River Basin released last December by the Bureau of Reclamation confirms what everyone already Advisory Committee Dan Beard knew: we are sucking more water out of the river than nature is putting in.