Jeff Lukas:
Update of the forecasted Powell inflows chart. Past 2+ weeks has been very good for the Upper Basin.
Jan 1st @nwscbrfc forecast called for 105% of average inflows.
Jan 17th forecast: 125% of average.
Long way to go, but really low #ColoradoRiver flows are off the table. pic.twitter.com/v5og1LGuRY— Jeff Lukas (@LukasClimate) January 18, 2023
We shall see!
Was is 2012 that we had a major wet period of one or two years? One year does not a trend make.
@Tres English
As the author of said Tweet, let me clarify.
I should not have used the plural in “Colorado River flows”–I meant only the runoff for *this year* (2023). Very low Powell inflows (<4000 kaf unregulated April-July– like in 2002, 2021, 2012, 2013, 2018, 2004, 2022, and 2020– are now outside of the minimum 2023 forecast from NOAA CBRFC. In other words, even if the weather turns recent-record-dry and -warm from now through July, the existing snowpack will keep flows out of that bleak territory.
While a wet year in 2023 would benefit reservoir conditions in succeeding years, and would improve runoff efficiency in 2024 (by replenishing soil moisture and shallow groundwater), I agree it would have no bearing on if the weather in 2024 and beyond is wet or dry. The long-term trend is towards lower annual flows due to the warming trend alone.
https://www.ksl.com/article/50556536/new-water-intake-system-installed-at-glen-canyon-dam-as-lake-powell-nears-record-low
Is there more information on this siphon project? I tried BuRec search without luck. The photo at the end of the article shows a large pipe behind the workman. The credit on the photo is BuRec.
I had the idea a few years ago that siphons could remove water from the deadpool. I also thought siphons might move lake water to the intakes on the penstocks for the turbines. At least one.
There is another idea to create a pumped hydro project with the lake water to a new higher reservoir. (Or maybe a lower reservoir and pump back.) This would work in conjunction with new solar arrays. I have no idea what the wind power situation is.
Time to get creative.
Patrick the extension of the intake is to let the neighboring city of Page and native tribes have access to water from Lake Powell. It is not for siphoning water over the dam.
I wonder if the will resume a HFE this season. That poor canyon cause really use one. Ants at camps were terrible in the Fall.