Difference between revisions of "GCDAMP- HFE 2012"

Revision as of 14:46, 31 March 2017

The 2012 HFE represents the 1st controlled high flow release conducted under the HFE Protocol.
Before and after images from the November 2012 HFE from each of the 45 sandbar sites monitored with remotely deployed digital cameras are available here.

Schedule & Duration

Ramp Rates

Ramp up: 4,000 cfs/hr from 9,000 - 27,300 cfs, then 3,750 cfs/hr to peak
Ramp down: 1,000 cfs/hr from 31,300 - 27,300 cfs, then 1,500 cfs/hr from 27,300 cfs

HFE Release Details

Releases and Lake Elevation

Releases will range from 7,000 - 9,000 cfs prior to and after the HFE
Lake elevation is projected to decrease by approximately 2.5 feet during the 5-day period
Estimated acre feet of water bypassed during HFE: xx kaf
November volume = xx kaf

Costs

Actual costs to hydropower: $1.918 million* (includes costs of 2012 Fall Steady Flow Experiment)

2012 Paria River discharge and cumulative sand inputs

@ RM30 = 390,000 metric tons
@ RM60 = 380,000 metric tons
@ RM87 = 540,000 metric tons
@ RM225 = 970,000 metric tons
At Diamond Creek (RM225), 1,810,000 metric tons were transported by the Colorado River between July 1, 2012, and July 1, 2013. Thus, 54% of the total delivery of sand to Lake Mead reservoir during this 1-year period occurred during approximately 5 days of the November 2012 HFE. For comparison, 45% of the total delivery of sand to Lake Mead reservoir during calendar year 2008 occurred during the 2008 HFE; the 2004 HFE delivered 40% of the total sand delivered to Lake Mead in calendar year 2004.
500,000 tons of sediment is equivelant to filling a football field 230 feet deep (KSalazar)

2012 Sandbar tour: deposition following the 2012 high flow on the Colorado River in Grand Canyon
Substantial Gain to 18 Sandbars--- 55% of sites.
No Substantial Change in 12 sandbars --- 36% of sites.
Substantial Loss of 3 sandbars --- 9% of sites.

Cultural: No adverse effects to historic properties of the 2012 HFE were identified. (USBR Memo 2013)
HBC & Native Fish: No measuable positive effect on HBC or other native fish. (Provisional- unpublished data)
RBT Monitoring: RBT in Glen Canyon moved very little during the period around HFE.
Foodbase: Initial results do not indicate a strong effect on food base-- but is expected to take longer to recover over the winter period (GCMRC unpublished data)
Kanab Ambersnail: FWS found in its 2011 BO that this loss of snails/ habitat would not jeopardize the continued existence of the snail
Whirling Disease: HFE's pose little risk of spreading whirling disease (GCMRC Assessment)

Contributor: Category: Sediment, Recreation, Water delivery

@@ Line 14: / Line 14: @@
 == 2012 High Flow Experiment Snapshot ==
 *The 2012 HFE represents the '''1st''' controlled high flow release conducted under the [http://gcdamp.com/index.php?title=The_HFE_Page HFE Protocol].
+*Before and after images from the November 2012 HFE from each of the 45 sandbar sites monitored with remotely deployed digital cameras are available [https://grandcanyon.usgs.gov/gisapps/sandbartour2012/index.html? '''here'''].
 '''Schedule & Duration'''

High Flow Experiment- 2012