GCDAMP- AOP

Annual Operating Plan

• Annual Operating Plan USBR LINK TO ANNUAL OPERATING PLAN
• Each year, the Annual Operating Plan (AOP) for Colorado River Reservoirs reports on both the past operations of the Colorado River reservoirs for the completed year as well as projected operations and releases from these reservoirs for the current (i.e., upcoming) year.
• Accordingly, the 2012 AOP reports on 2011 operations as well as projected operations for 2012.
• In recent years, additional operational rules, guidelines, and decisions have been put into place for Colorado River reservoirs including the 1996 Glen Canyon Dam Record of Decision (ROD), the 1997 Operating Criteria for Glen Canyon Dam, the 1999 Off-stream Storage of Colorado River Water Rule (43 CFR Part 414), the 2001 Interim Surplus Guidelines addressing operation of Hoover Dam, the 2006 Flaming Gorge Dam ROD, the 2006 Navajo Dam ROD to implement recommended flows for endangered fish, the 2007 Interim Guidelines for the operations of Lake Powell and Lake Mead, and numerous environmental assessments addressing experimental releases from Glen Canyon Dam.
• Each AOP incorporates these rules, guidelines, and decisions and implements the criteria contained in the applicable decision document or documents. Thus, the AOP makes projections and reports on how the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) will implement these decisions in response to changing water supply conditions as they unfold during the upcoming year, when conditions become known.
• Congress has charged the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) with stewardship and responsibility for a wide range of natural, cultural, recreational, and tribal resources within the Colorado River Basin.
• The Secretary has the authority to operate and maintain Reclamation facilities within the Colorado River Basin addressed in this AOP to help manage these resources and accomplish their protection and enhancement in a manner fully consistent with applicable provisions of federal law including the Law of the River, and other project-specific operational limitations.
• Monthly 24-Month Study reports present hydrologic descriptions and projected operations for the Colorado River system reservoirs for the next two years. *The USBR 24 Month Study Report is a combination of a write up of recent, current and potential future operations and a listing of the 24-Month Study computer model output.
• The 24 Month Study computer model projects future reservoir conditions and potential dam operations for the system reservoirs given existing reservoir conditions; inflow forecasts and projections; and a variety of operational policies and guidelines.
• Monthly reservoir inflow forecasts and projections are produced by the National Weather Service, Colorado Basin River Forecast Center (CBRFC).

The monthly reports can be accessed at: USBR 24 Month Studies LINK

USBR LINK TO ANNUAL OPERATING PLAN

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ADDITIONAL ITEMS

• USBR 1997 The operation of Glen Canyon Dam during spring runoff periods working Draft

Contributor: Marianne Crawford, USBR Category: Water Delivery

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