News Release Archive

Reclamation's Davis Dam to Serve as Lower Colorado River Regulatory Power Source on Wednesday, Jan. 5

Changing river elevations possible below Davis Dam

Media Contact: Rose Davis , 702-293-8421 , jdavis@usbr.gov
River Operations Center , 702-293-8373, waterops@usbr.gov

For Release: December 29, 2010

BOULDER CITY, NV - On Wednesday, January 5, Davis Dam will provide additional energy for the Western Area Power Administration, if needed, to meet energy demands throughout the Southwest.

From 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. PST, 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. MST, water releases from Davis Dam could vary from 4,600 cubic feet per second (cfs) up to 14,000 cfs in 15 minute intervals. If the release is required, Colorado River levels through the Laughlin/Bullhead City area could vary by as much as two to four feet.

Hoover Dam generally normally serves as the regulatory power source for the Western Area Power Administration, but Reclamation's dive team will collect information on endangered fish species in the river channel downstream of Hoover Dam on the morning of January 5 in support of Reclamation's Multi-Species Conservation Program. A steady, unvaried river flow is required for the divers' safety.

During the three-hour period when Hoover Dam is not used to provide regulatory power, Davis Dam will supply as much as an additional 100 megawatts for the Western Area Power Administration.

River users below Hoover Dam will not be affected by this change, but boaters below Davis Dam should exercise extra caution during this period of fluctuating river flows.

Daily and hourly information on releases from Reclamation's Colorado River dams is available on Reclamation's web site, at http://www.usbr.gov/lc/riverops.html, or contact the Boulder Canyon Operations Office Water Operations Control Center by phone at: 702-293-8373, or by e-mail at: BCOOWaterops@usbr.gov.

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