Lower Colorado River Operations Schedule

Note: You may now view this report with near real-time data at this link. The link is updated hourly with our most recent operations data and operational projections.


May 25, 2023                                 Water Operations Control Center 702-293-8373
Releases from Davis and Parker dams will vary from about 4,500 cubic feet per second
(cfs) to 24,000 cfs during a 24-hour period.  River levels will vary during the 24-hour
periods with the higher levels coinciding with periods of peak hydroelectric power
generation.  Levels below the dams are usually highest during the afternoon and early
evening.  Average daily releases may vary in response to changing conditions.

Average daily releases and midnight lake elevations for the week, as well as
anticipated averages for the following 2 weeks, are scheduled as follows:


                   Parker              Davis               Hoover
                   Dam       Lake      Dam       Lake      Dam        Lake
                   Average   Havasu    Average   Mohave    Average    Mead
                   Release   Elev.     Release   Elev.     Release    Elev.
       Date        (cfs)     (ft)      (cfs)     (ft)      (cfs)      (ft)
       -----       -----     -----     -----     -----     -----      -----
       May 29      11900     447.1     14000     642.3     13200      1053.8
       May 30      11200     447.1     13800     642.2     13200      1053.9
       May 31      10800     447.0     13600     642.1     13200      1054.1
       Jun  1       7500     447.4     13100     642.2     14000      1054.2
       Jun  2      10800     447.5     13100     642.2     14000      1054.2
       Jun  3      11100     447.5     13100     642.2     14000      1054.4
       Jun  4      11000     447.5     13100     642.2     14000      1054.5
       
       Average     10600               13400               13600
       
       Jun  5 to
       Jun 11      11400     447.3     13300     642.3     14000      1055.3
       
       Jun 12 to
       Jun 18      11500     447.4     13400     642.2     14000      1056.1


Current Lake Powell storage is 7,227 thousand acre-feet (KAF) (31 percent of capacity).
Lake Mead storage is 7,903 KAF (30 percent of capacity).  Total system storage is 22,393
KAF (38 percent of capacity).  Lake Powell elevation is 3,551.92 feet.

The April-July unregulated inflow forecast for the Colorado River is 11.00 million acre-
feet or 172 percent of average.

Yesterday, the average Colorado River flows were 1,710 cfs near the Yuma Fourth Avenue
Bridge and 1,921 cfs at the Northerly International Boundary.  The average release from
Painted Rock Dam was 1,003 cfs and Alamo Dam was 298 cfs.  The Morelos Dam diversions for the
week of 29-May-2023 are expected to be 1,924 cfs.

ALL RIVER USERS should remember that fluctuating river flows may conceal or create
natural hazards such as moving sandbars, gravel bars, unstable riverbanks, floating or
submerged debris, or other unfamiliar obstacles.  Caution should be exercised while using
the river between Davis Dam and the Mexican Border at San Luis, Arizona.

                This Schedule can now be accessed on the Internet at:
                   www.usbr.gov/lc/region/g4000/hourly/rivops.html


Last updated: 25-May-2023


Please contact the Water Operations Control Center via e-mail at bcoowaterops@usbr.gov or via phone at (702) 293-8373 for additional questions or information.