Colorado River BasinColorado River BasinWater Supply OutWater Supply Outlooklook
Lake Powell
Lake Mead
La Nina Years ? ! ?
Good ? Bad ?
Good - Water Year 2011
Bad – Water Year 2012
Upper Colorado River Basin
Lower Colorado River Basin
Lake Powell
Lake Mead
Upper Colorado River Basin
Lower Colorado River Basin
Lake MeadLake Powell
Colorado River BasinColorado River BasinWater Supply OutlookWater Supply Outlook
2012 Final Forecast
State of the System (1999-2012)
1
Colorado River BasinColorado River BasinWater Supply OutlookWater Supply Outlook
● April to June 2012 Inflow Into Lake Powell – 2.36 MAF (33% of Normal – 3rd lowest on record [1909 to 2011]). (April to June Observed 2011 Inflow Into Lake Powell – 12.89 MAF (162% of Normal).
● Water Year 2012 Inflow Into Lake Powell – y6 MAF (51% of Normal) (Water Year 2011 Inflow into Lake Powell – 15.97 MAF [139% of Normal]).
● Water Year 2012 Release from Lake Powell – 9.46 MAF Release to the Lower Basin (1.23 MAF “Equalization” Carryover from Water Year 2011 plus 8.23 MAF minimum objective release per 2007 Interim Guidelines).
● Lake Powell and Lake Mead Storage will generally decline through 2013.
Colorado River BasinColorado River BasinWater Supply OutlWater Supply Outlookook
First Shortage Elevation
Colorado River BasinColorado River BasinWater Supply OutlWater Supply Outlookook
Colorado River BasinColorado River BasinWater Supply OutlookWater Supply Outlook
Lake Powell
Lake Mead
Total Reservoir System Contents:
37.1 MAF or 62%
(As of May 7, 2012)
Total Reservoir System Contents Last Year:
31.6 MAF or 53%
LAKE POWELLLAKE POWELLCapacity – 24.5 MAFCapacity – 24.5 MAF
05/07/2012 - 64% 05/07/2012 - 64% fullfull
Contents 15.5 MAFContents 15.5 MAFElevation – 3,636’Elevation – 3,636’
Glen Canyon Dam
Page
Colorado River BasinColorado River BasinWater Supply OutlookWater Supply Outlook
LAKE MEADLAKE MEADCapacity - 26 MAFCapacity - 26 MAF
05/07/2012 - 53% full05/07/2012 - 53% fullContents – 13.9 MAFContents – 13.9 MAF Elevation – 1,123’Elevation – 1,123’
Hoover Dam
Las Vegas
Colorado River BasinColorado River BasinWater Supply OutlookWater Supply Outlook
Source: Bureau of Reclamation
Lower Colorado River BasinChance of a Shortage or Surplus
Key Operational Elevations – Interim Period
FLOOD CONTROL ORQUANTIFIED SURPLUS (“70R”)
1145’ (56% full)
1000’ (16% full)
915’ (2% full)
1220’ (95% full)
1200’ (84% full)
DOMESTIC SURPLUS
NORMAL OPERATIONS
Lake Mead
1050’ (27% full)
895’ (0% full)
Minimum Power Pool and Bottom of First SNWA Intake
Bottom of Second SNWA Intake Minimum Mead Intake Elevation
Top of Dead Storage
1075’ (34% full)400 KAF SHORTAGE (333 KAF to U.S.)(320 KAF to Arizona)
RECONSULTATION(For Additional Shortages)
1025’ (21% full)
500 KAF SHORTAGE (417 KAF to U.S.)(400 KAF to Arizona)
600 KAF SHORTAGE (500 KAF to U.S.)(480 KAF to Arizona)
What About Next Year?La Nina Year ? ! ? El Nino Year ? ! ?
El Nino
La Nina
What About Next Year?La Nina Year ? ! ? El Nino Year ? ! ?
El Nino
La Nina
El Nino
La Nina
What About Next Year?La Nina Year ? ! ? El Nino Year ? ! ?
The Earth’s Water As A Sphere
Diameter of the Water Sphere860 Miles
321 million cubic miles of water
Source: USGS Water Science for Schools: http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/eatrhhowmuch.html
