PowerPoint Presentation

Water Resources Update and 
Conservation of Water in Lake Mead
City Council Workshop, May 9, 2023

For Information and Discussion:
2022 Glendale potable water use
Conditions on the Salt River Project and Colorado River systems
Guidelines for management of the Colorado River system
Timeline for Colorado River actions in 2023
For Consensus:
Voluntary participation in Reclamation’s System Conservation 
Program
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Outline

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2022 Glendale Potable Water Use
2022 Potable Water Use = 39,741 acre-feet
(2021 Potable Water Use = 43,239 acre-feet)
Central Arizona Project (CAP) - 49%
Salt River Project (SRP) - 46%
Groundwater (GW) - 5%
GW
2,033 AF
5%
SRP
18,200 AF
46%
CAP 
19,508 AF
49%
2022 Potable Water Use (acre-feet)

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Salt River Project Conditions
2022-23 Winter precipitation has been 
exceptional.
Salt River and Verde reservoirs are currently 
100% full.
Last year, at this time, the total system was 
72% full.
Water releases have occurred this year from the 
Salt and Verde river systems.

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Glendale’s SRP Water Supplies
Glendale’s Roosevelt Lake New 
Conservation Space has filled (27,250 
acre-feet).  
Glendale benefits from the filling of the 
SRP reservoirs:
o The water released from the dams (spill 
water) is at no additional cost and can be 
used anywhere in our water service area
o The spill water can be used in lieu of 
Colorado River supplies
Roosevelt 
Dam

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Colorado River Conditions
Precipitation in the Colorado River Watershed is about 160% above average.
Spring runoff into Lake Powell is expected to be above average 
however:
o Soil conditions in the watershed were very dry in the Fall of 2022
o Spring weather conditions are expected to be drier and warmer
The larger than predicted inflow into Lake Powell will help transfer more water to 
Lake Mead from Lake Powell during the year. 
One favorable winter does not restore the Colorado River system, which has a 
deficit of 2 million acre-feet/year.

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Management of Lake Mead and Lake Powell
The 2007 Interim Guidelines 
for Lake Mead and Lake Powell Operations
The 2019 Drought Contingency Plan 
The 2021 500 Plus Plan
The Proposed 2023 Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement

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Timeline of Colorado River Actions
Recent Actions by the Federal Government and Basin States:
o January 2023- Reclamation asks for the Basin States to produce a plan to reduce water use by            
2 to 4 million acre-feet by 1/31/2023. 
o February 2023 - Six Basin States submit one plan and California produces their own separate plan.
o April 2023 - Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) to modify the operating        
guidelines for Glen Canyon and Hoover Dams.
- April 24-month Study. 
Upcoming Actions:
o Summer / Fall 2023 - Finalization of the SEIS.
o August 2023 - August 24-Month Study will project end of year water levels in Lake Mead and Lake 
Powell and shortage tier for 2024.
o Fall 2023 – Glendale preparation for the 2024 water year.

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Program to Protect Lake Mead
Voluntary program for Colorado River water 
conserved in Lake Mead
o Bureau of Reclamation program (System 
Conservation Program)
SRP Spill water will be replacing CAP water 
under this program. 
Compensation of $400 for every acre-foot
Would not hinder Glendale’s future orders of 
Colorado River water

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Glendale Participation in Program
City could conserve up to 7,000 acre-feet of Colorado River water in 2023 
through 2025. 
To conserve Colorado River water, Glendale Water Services is currently modifying 
operations to use excess SRP waters in 2023:
o
Using SRP Spill Water – up to 6,000 acre-feet
o
Possibly use Glendale’s NCS water – up to 1,000 acre-feet
At $400/acre-foot, Water Services would receive up to $2.8 million/year. 
If Council Consensus, the agreement will be brought to a future Council meeting.

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Request for Council Consensus
Enter into an agreement 
o Bureau of Reclamation Program
Exchange up to 7,000 acre-feet 
of CAP water for $400/acre-
foot

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Questions?