Drawdown Of Apache Lake Begins

Salt River Project today started the gradual drawdown of Apache Lake in what will be the 1st phase of construction projects for 2 of the 6 dams on the Salt River. The Safety of Dams maintenance work at Horse Mesa Dam & Mormon Flat Dam will result in lower levels at Apache Lake for fall 2006 & for Canyon Lake for fall 2007.

During these maintenance periods, SRP will draw down Apache & Canyon lakes approx., 50 feet below the normal lake levels through normal water order. The slow rate of the lowering of the lakes at the beginning of the scheduled drawdowns - about 1-half foot per day - should not affect boaters & marina operators during Labor Day weekend in 2006 or 2007.

Because of the abundant rain & greater-then-anticipated runoff this summer throughout Arizona, water orders have been consistently lower than planned & SRP expects this water-use trend to continue through the fall months. Therefore, to facilitate the timely drawdown of Apache Lake, SRP is proceeding with the following maintenance schedule:

* Aug. 21-Sept. 1: Apache Lake will be lowered to elevation 1,905 feet.
* Sept. 1-Sept. 11: Normal operations at Apache Lake, with day-to-day fluctuations.
* Sept. 11-Jan. 20, 2007: Apache Lake will be lowered from elevation 1,905 feet to the target elevation of 1,867 feet, & it will be refilled by Jan. 20, 2007.
* Sept. 10, 2007-Feb. 4, 2008: Final details of the Canyon Lake drawdown will be communicated next year.

To keep dams safe & secure, the Bureau of Reclamation requires regular inspections & repair. Maintenance work of this scope & on these components that are normally under water on the 2 dams was last performed in 1989 at Horse Mesa Dam.

Structures & equipment, including the hydroelectric facilities at Horse Mesa & Mormon Flat dams, will be examined for wear & repaired if necessary. In addition, SRP will be performing channel-improvement work downstream of Horse Mesa Dam to maintain performance of the hydroelectric pump & turbine.

The plan will prevent any water from being spilled as a result of dam maintenance, will retain normal lake levels for most of the summer, & will limit the loss of hydroelectric generation during times of lower energy demand.

During the Apache & Canyon lake drawdowns, boating & fishing enthusiasts can check lake levels & boat ramp depths at the SRP home page at www.srpnet.com/dwr.