OCR Text |
Show 32 V. Major Works in the Lower Basin Helpful to an understanding of the problems raised by this controversy is an awareness of the existence and function of the various works affecting the flow of water in the Lower Basin of the Colorado River System. A. Mainstream Works 1. Hoover Dam. This is the principal structure in the Lower Basin, impounding the waters of the Colorado River to form Lake Mead. The reservoir has an active or usable storage capacity of about 27,200,000 acre-feet, a maximum length of 115 miles, a maximum width of 8 miles, and, at elevation 1229, a maximum surface area of 162,700 acres. Hoover Dam is situated in Black Canyon on the main channel of the Colorado River, 330 miles above the Mexican border. The middle of the channel at the site of the dam is the common boundary between the States of Arizona and Nevada. It is the world's highest dam: a concrete arch, gravity type structure having a height of 726.4 feet and a hydraulic height of 575.8 feet. Two side-channel spillways, with a capacity of 400,000 cubic feet per second [hereinafter "c.f.s"],12 have been constructed in connection with the dam. The outlet works have a capacity of 91,000 c.f.s. and the power plant discharge (17 turbines) is 30,560 c.f.s. The rating of the generators presently installed, including two small station-service units, is 1,249,800 kw. ; ultimately the generator rating installation will be 1,354,-300 kw. Construction of Hoover Dam was initiated on September 17, 1930, and water was first impounded on February 1, 12One cubic foot of water is approximately 7.48 gallons. One cf.s. flow is approximately 1.983 acre-feet per day or 646,317 gallons per day. Ariz. Ex. 1000, p. 17. |
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Original Report: State of Arizona, complainant v. State of California, Palo Verde Irrigation District, Imperial Irrigation District, Coachella Valley County Water District, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, City of Los Angeles, California, City of San Diego, California, and County of San Diego, California |