Difference between revisions of "GCDAMP- HFE 2012"

Revision as of 15:49, 14 November 2016

High Flow Experiment- 2012

2012 High Flow Experiment Snapshot

• The 2012 HFE represents the 1st controlled high flow release conducted under the HFE Protocol.

Schedule & Duration

• Nov. 18 begin upramp to powerplant capacity
• Nov. 19- 12:00 p.m. open bypass tubes
• Nov. 23 - 7:00 p.m. end of HFE
• Total duration: 5 days & 5 hours (96 hours at peak release)

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

• Maximum total release: 42,300 cfs
• Powerplant capacity: 27,300 cfs
• River outlet tubes: 15,000 cfs
• Hydropower generation units available: 8
• River outlet tubes: 4

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)

SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS

• Financial Analysis of Experimental Releases Conducted at Glen Canyon Dam during Water Year 2013 by D.J. Graziano, L.A. Poch, T.D. Veselka, C.S. Palmer,* S. Loftin,* and B. Osiek*
• USBR 2012 HFE LINK
• AZ Game & Fish_Glen Canyon Dam High Flow Releases-2012 VIDEO CLIP
• 2012 HFE video
• 2012 HFE pictures

COMPLIANCE

HFE Protocol

SAND TRANSPORT caused by 2012 HFE

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)

RESULTS OF 2012 HFE

• 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.

• RESULTS: 6 Months Later (MAY 2013)
• Most sandbars constructed by the 2012 HFE eroded by May 2013.
• 8 sites were still somewhat larger, 14 sites remained the same, 7 were smaller.

Effects on Resources

• 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)

• AZ News Central Video- HFE, Sediment, Jack Schmidt, monitoring LINK
• Feds’ AZ Central News_ Grand Canyon flood a success
• Arizona Game and Fish Wildlife Views article titled "A Changing Grand Canyon: Can high flows help?" (Published October 2012) -Bill Stewart

Contributor: Category: Sediment, Recreation, Water delivery