Roosevelt Lake looks like a pond

[CouesPursuit]

Here in the valley, we are currently in the season with the highest water demand, so more water is being released. More importantly, it's also the highest power demand, so water is released from the salt side of the system as all 4 dams on the salt are equipped with hydrogeneration. Verde side has 0 hydrogeneration, so water is typically pulled from Bartlett, October - April when power demand is at its lowest.

 

With very little exception, Roosevelt's water level is directly related to precip conditions and Apache, Canyon, and Saguaro below are almost always kept full. They even pump water out of Saguaro and back up into Canyon at night, when electricity is cheap, and release it back during the day when the demand is higher, conceptually creating free electricity.

 

Moral of the story, there are a lot of misconceptions on how and why water is released and when. In this case, there is definitely a plan, but it isn't "making room" for anything.

[AverageJoe]

Making room is indeed part of "the plan". If they left the water in Roosevelt and didnt lower the lake level accordingly when the winter runoff came they would either have too much water and overflow the dam (like what happened in previous years thus the cause for the extra 70 ft addition, or two; they would have to generate non stop/or bypass generators via spillgates and send the water downstream and end up with no storage for summer months.

 

There are so many factors that calculate into why and when the lake is at certain levels but you can be certain it is for a reason

[AverageJoe]

I am sure there are others on here that know as much as I do and more, but having been a hydro dam operator I do know more than most.

[Hunterjohnny]

 

They even pump water out of Saguaro and back up into Canyon at night, when electricity is cheap, and release it back during the day when the demand is higher, conceptually creating free electricity.

 

I was reading an article on this not long ago, I had no idea we did this.

[Str8Shot]

Keep in mind that in the last 7 years all three lower lakes have been dropped to certain low levels while working on various projects .... Roosevelt is down and if this El Nino winter is anything like they say may come it will fill up pretty quick... I think it shows a complete waste of money on the improvements and ramps put in at windy hill since there has only been 2 years that I know of that they were all able to be used. I preferred the days of camping on the shore and keeping the boat in the water

[CouesPursuit]

Not arguing with you AverageJoe, no doubt you know more than most. But when I see "getting ready" and "make room," along with others talking about weather forecasts, it seemed to me you're implying there is a better place to put the water before the anticipated El Nino, when they are really just using standard reservoir operations. That is all, didn't mean to make it sound like I was calling you out.

 

 

[AverageJoe]

No offense taken and you are correct that it is standard operations.

[PRDATR]

 

 

They even pump water out of Saguaro and back up into Canyon at night, when electricity is cheap, and release it back during the day when the demand is higher, conceptually creating free electricity.

 

I was reading an article on this not long ago, I had no idea we did this.

 

 

 

Lots of people don't realize it. I have seen quite a few boats listing on one side in shallow water in the back part of Saguaro because they had their boat too close to shore at night.

[trphyhntr]

2005 20141013_150202-1-1.jpg

I killed it on square bills that year