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R. B. Griffith Project
Robert B. Griffith Project | Project History | Project Data | Contact Information

Project Data

  

Project # 952

Project Water Supply
Project Water Quality

  

Project Water Supply

Current Conditions

Weather Conditions (NOAA)

Precipitation

Streamflow Forecast Map

Spring and Summer (NRCS)
Snowpack Information

Mountain Snowpack Maps for Colorado River Basin
Drought Index

Palmer Drought Index Map
Explanation of Palmer Drought Severity Index (Text)


Historic Conditions

Annual Precipitation
Normal4.13 in
Maximum - 19657.96 in
Minimum - 19681.11 in
Las Vegas, Nevada 1961-1990

Temperature
Mean Annual66.7 ?F
Daily Maximum - 07/11/1959116 ?F
Daily Minimum - 01/13/19638 ?F
Las Vegas, Nevada 1949-1996

Colorado River
Drainage area above Hoover Dam1167,000 mi2
Annual discharge near Grand Canyon2:
Average11,270,000 acre-ft
Maximum - 1929319,850,000 acre-ft
Minimum - 19631,629,000 acre-ft
Discharge near Grand Canyon:
Momentary Maximum - 07/2/19274127,000 ft3/s
Momentary Minimum - 12/28/24700 ft3/s
Average15,570 ft3/s

1 137,800 mi2 near Grand Canyon.

2 Grand Canyon Station is located 267.2 miles upstream from Hoover Dam.

3 Recorded maximum. Estimated maximum of 25,200,000 acre-ft occurred in 1909.

4 Other estimated maximums are 300,000 ft3/s on July 8, 1884, and 220,000 ft3/s on July 19, 1921.

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Project Water Quality

Havasu - Mohave Lakes

Lake Mead

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Facilities in Operation - First Stage
Facilities in Operation - Second Stage
Storage Facilities
Carriage Facilities - First Stage
Carriage Facilities - Second Stage
Pumping Plants
Power Facilities

  

Facilities in Operation - First Stage
Storage Dams1
Main Aqueduct2.97 mi
River Mountain Tunnel4 mi
Laterals32.1 mi
Pumping Plants9

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Facilities in Operation - Second Stage
Main Aqueduct `B` Line2.39 mi
Pittman Lateral19.79 mi
Pumping Plants6

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Storage Facilities

Hoover Dam

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Carriage Facilities - First Stage
Saddle Island Intake Facilities and Tunnel
LocationExtends from the east side of Saddle Island in Lake Mead though the island to the west, and terminates in a pump chamber below Pumping Plant No.1.
Construction period1969-1971
Length0.27 mi
Capacity1623 cfs
Cross section:Horseshoe
Diameter156 in
Elevation of inlet1,018.1 ft
Lining:Generally unlined
Access adit:Provides access to the intake tunnel and pumping plant chamber through an inclined tunnel.
Length1,400 ft
Width14 ft
Type:Modified horseshoe
Slope0.17

1 The tunnel was designed to provide capacity for both first and second stage operation

Main Aqueduct
LocationExtends from Pumping Plant No.1 to the River Mountain Tunnel.
Construction period1970-1971
DescriptionPrestressed circular concrete
Length2.97 mi
Diameter120-96 in
Capacity585-300 cfs

River Mountain Tunnel
LocationExcavated through the River Mountains, which lie between Las Vegas Valley and Lake Mead.
Construction period1968-1970
Length3.78 mi
Diversion capacity500-608 cfs
Cross section:Circular
Diameter121.5-156 in
Lining:Concrete
Thickness15-21 in

Las Vegas Valley Lateral
LocationBegins at the outlet portal of the River Mountain Tunnel and runs to the Whitney Bifurcation
Construction period1970-1971
DescriptionCylindrical
Prestressed concrete pipe3.08 mi
Steel pipe, mortar lined3.38 mi
Steel pipe, coal-tar coated0.53 mi
Total length:6.99 mi
River Mountain to Henderson Bifurcation0.97 mi
Henderson Bifurcation to Whitney Bifurcation6.02 mi
Diameter96090-in
Initial capacity289-261 cfs

North Las Vegas Lateral
LocationBegins at the Whitney Bifurcation and extends to a terminal reservoir near Nellis Air Force Base.
Construction period1970-1971
Description
Steel pipe, coal-tar coated0.21 mi
Steel pipe, mortar lined8.42 mi
Pretensioned concrete1.37 mi
Length10 mi
Diameter72-24 in
Capacity101-16 cfs

Whitney Lateral
LocationBegins at the Whitney Bifurcation and extends in an easterly direction to a terminal reservoir near the intersection of Flamingo Road and Pecos Road.
Construction period1970-1971
Description
Steel pipe, coal-tar coated1.63 mi
Steel pipe, mortar lined1.65 mi
Length3.28 mi
Diameter66 in
Capacity160 cfs

Sahara Lateral
LocationBegins at Sahara Bifurcation and extends eastward to the Sahara Flow Control Station.
Construction period1970-1971
DescriptionSteel pipe, mortar lined and coated
Length0.34 mi
Diameter24 in
Capacity15 cfs

Henderson Lateral
LocationBegins at the Henderson Bifurcation works in the Las Vegas Valley Lateral and extends in a south westerly direction to the city of Henderson terminal tank.
Construction period1968-1971
DescriptionSteel pipe, mortar lined and coated
Length4.53 mi
Diameter36 in
Capacity28 cfs

Boulder City Lateral
LocationBegins at Pumping Plant No.1A and terminates at the twin receiving tanks near Boulder City, Nevada.
Construction period1968-1969
Length7.48 mi
Diameter36-27 in
Capacity30 cfs

Alfred Merritt Smith Water Treatment Facilities
LocationConstructed by the State of Nevada near Pumping Plant 1A near the west shore of Lake Mead opposite Saddle Island.
Construction period1968-1970
DescriptionThe water treatment plant provides for pretreatment, aeration, taste and color control, flocculation, filtration, chlorination, and corrosion control.
Capacity34.5 MGD
Number of Flocculation units10
Number of filters20
Surface area of filters56,000 ft2
Filter rating at maximum flow5 ft2
Filter mediator
Anthracite coal20 in
Sand10 in
Filter backwash rate22.5 cfs
Chemical additives: Chlorine, sulfur dioxide, potassium permanganate, sodium silicate, activated silica, caustic soda, aluminum sulfate, activated carbon, and polyelectrolyte.

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Carriage Facilities - Second Stage
Main Aqueduct `B` line
LocationRuns from Pumping Plant 1B to the River Mountains Tunnel.
Construction period1977-1979
DescriptionPrestressed circular concrete
Length2.39 mi
Diameter96-108 in
Capacity306 cfs

Pittman Lateral
LocationBegins at the outlet portal of the River Mountains Tunnel and extends to Oakey Blvd.
Construction period1978-1981
Description
River Mountain Tunnel portal to Mesa Lateral Bifurcation6.57 mi of 8.5-ft-diameter steel pipe with Pritec coating and field applied mortar lining
Mesa Lateral Bifurcation to Valley View Regulating Tank9.59 mi of 7.5- and 8.0-ft-diameter steel pipe with Pritec coating and field applied mortar lining
Valley View Regulating Tank to Oakey Turnout3.63 mi of 7.0-ft-diameter reinforced concrete pipe.
Length19.79 mi
Diameter102-84 in
Capacity232-319 cfs

Fayle Lateral
LocationFrom Valley View Regulating Tank to Fayle Reservoir.
Construction period1980
DescriptionSteel pipe with Pritec coating and field applied mortar lining.
Length0.34 mi
Diameter72 in
Capacity140 cfs

Twin Lakes Lateral
LocationBegins at the Oakey Turnout, the end of Pittman Lateral, and extends to Carlton Square Reservoir.
Construction period1981-1982
DescriptionPretensioned concrete cylinder pipe
Length5.36 mi
Diameter33, 36, 42, 48 in
Capacity32-82 cfs

Foothill Lateral
LocationBegins at Foothill Turnout on Pittman Lateral, and extends to Foothill Tank (constructed by City of Henderson)
Construction period1981
DescriptionAsbestos-cement pressure pipe
Length0.20 mi
Diameter21 in
Capacity12 cfs

North Lateral
LocationBegins at North Lateral Turnout on Pittman Lateral and extends to a reservoir constructed by the City of Henderson at a site near the city`s north boundary.
Construction period1980-1981
DescriptionAsbestos-concrete pressure pipe and steel coal-tar enameled coated pipe.
Length0.58 mi
Diameter24 in
Capacity11 cfs

Mesa Lateral
LocationBegins at Mesa Lateral Bifurcation on Pittman Lateral and runs to receiving tank built by the city of Henderson.
Construction period1980-1982
DescriptionPretensioned concrete cylinder pipe and steel coal-tar enameled coated pipe.
Length2.17 mi
Diameter42 in
Capacity46 cfs

Charleston Heights Lateral
LocationStarts at a bifurcation on Twin Lakes Lateral and terminates at Las Vegas Valley Water District tanks.
Construction period1981-1982
DescriptionPretensioned concrete cylinder pipe and steel coal-tar enameled coated pipe.
Length0.14 mi
Diameter42 in
Capacity40 cfs

Robinson Lateral
LocationBegins at the Twin Lakes Pumping Plant and Forebay and extends to an existing North Las Vegas water tank located in the vicinity of the North Las Vegas Air Terminal.
Construction period1981-1982
DescriptionAsbestos-cement pressure pipe
Length1.52 mi
Diameter24 in
Capacity10 cfs

Colorado Street Lateral
LocationExtends from Pumping Plant No. 7B near first stage Pumping Plant No. 7 to Boulder City`s existing west water tank.
Construction period1981-1982
DescriptionPretensioned concrete cylinder pipe
Length0.52 mi
Diameter18, 21, 27 in
Capacity7.5 cfs

Hemenway Lateral
LocationOn the Boulder City Lateral about 2,500 feet before lateral reaches Surge Tank No. 5.
Construction period1981-1982
DescriptionAsbestos-cement pressure pipe and steel pipe with Pritec coating and mortar lining.
Length0.12 mi
Diameter8-12 in
Capacity2.5 cfs

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Pumping Plants
DesignationNumber of unitsTotal capacity, cfsTotal dynamic head, ftTotal horsepower
First Stage
Pumping Plant No. 110-0 sb31122310,000
PP No. 1A Main Aqueduct6-1 sb30035515,000
PP No. 1A Boulder City Lateral2-1 sb1545512,000
No. 2A6-1 sb30035515,000
No. 33-1 sb282301,050
No. 42-1 sb154551,200
No. 52-1 sb154551,200
No. 63-1 sb901822,400
No. 73-1 sb1578225
Second Stage
PP No. 1 (modifications)10-0 sb31222310,000
PP No. 1A - Boulder City Lateral (modifications)2-0 sb154451,200
PP No. 4 (modifications)2-0 sb154451,200
PP No. 5 (modifications)2-0 sb154451,200
PP No. 1B6-1 sb30635518,000
PP No. 2B6-1 sb30635518,000
PP No. 7B3-1 sb7.5175225
Hacienda6-1 sb25036518,000
Twin Lakes - Robinson3-1 sb10102180
Twin Lakes - Carlton3-1 sb32117600

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Power Facilities

Robert B. Griffith Water Project - First Stage

Robert B. Griffith Water Project - Second Stage

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Last updated: May 16, 2011