As Bart already linked from the Announcements forum the new BoR plan EIS was released today:
www.usbr.gov
The most interesting part for the near term is Appendix T, which includes what is likely to be the operating plan for 2027 and 2028, though this remains to be finalized.
To save you all some diving, the key take aways for Powell releases and elevations the next two years are:
The idea going forward is that instead of twenty year plan, or even a ten year plan, they will revisit every two years - at least until the states all agree to something. This means a lot more uncertainty. The above is then just the most likely plan for the next two years, they won't release the final plan for 2027 and 2028 until later, but presumably it isn't going to differ too dramatically from the above.
There is a lot more going on in the broader EIS and you will likely be able to read all about it and what various groups think about it in plenty of press reporting. But I suspect the details of what is likely to happen in the next two years will be glossed over in all that. First, because that's not yet finalized (Appendix T is what is expected) and second because the story is more about the whole river and lower basin cuts rather than the details of managing Powell.
Hopefully this is a useful summary! Please correct if folks find I've gotten something wrong.
Final Environmental Impact Statement | Bureau of Reclamation
Bureau of Reclamation - Managing water and power in the West
The most interesting part for the near term is Appendix T, which includes what is likely to be the operating plan for 2027 and 2028, though this remains to be finalized.
To save you all some diving, the key take aways for Powell releases and elevations the next two years are:
- In October an initial release plan is made based on the current lake elevation at the start of October. When less than 3540 the initial plan is 7.0 Maf.
- In April the release is adjusted based on the forecast lake elevations at the end of the water year and during the following spring.
- If possible, the lake elevation is protected to 3510 using Powell releases reduced to as low as 6.0 Maf and upstream releases of up to 1.0 Maf. The goal is to achieve the elevation with a 1:1 balance of reduced Powell releases and increased upstream releases if possible.
- If with the above measures the Lake would still drop below 3510, then Powell releases can be reduced as low as 5.0 Maf to protect an elevation of 3500.
The idea going forward is that instead of twenty year plan, or even a ten year plan, they will revisit every two years - at least until the states all agree to something. This means a lot more uncertainty. The above is then just the most likely plan for the next two years, they won't release the final plan for 2027 and 2028 until later, but presumably it isn't going to differ too dramatically from the above.
There is a lot more going on in the broader EIS and you will likely be able to read all about it and what various groups think about it in plenty of press reporting. But I suspect the details of what is likely to happen in the next two years will be glossed over in all that. First, because that's not yet finalized (Appendix T is what is expected) and second because the story is more about the whole river and lower basin cuts rather than the details of managing Powell.
Hopefully this is a useful summary! Please correct if folks find I've gotten something wrong.
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