The Bureau of Reclamation announced that it will lower the level of the river on the Parker Strip by one foot beginning Tuesday.
The Bureau said that the level of Lake Moovalya by approximately one foot in elevation for about two weeks beginning in early January 2018. Lake Moovalya is the small body of water behind Headgate Rock Dam north of Parker, Arizona. Reclamation is coordinating this activity with the Bureau of Indian Affairs to allow the Colorado River Indian Tribes a window of opportunity to perform annual maintenance on their canals.
The drawdown was scheduled to begin the morning of Tuesday, January 2nd, 2018. The one-foot drop should be completed by Tuesday afternoon, but environmental conditions could vary the drawdown time. The temporary drawdown is expected to have minimal impacts on releases from Parker Dam and will not affect Colorado River flows below Headgate Rock Dam. During the drawdown, the Lake Moovalya water level will stay at approximately elevation 363.40 feet; the water level is normally at elevation 364.40 feet. The lake should return to its normal elevation by Tuesday, January 16th, however, a return to normal elevation may occur sooner or later than this date depending on operational or environmental conditions.
All river users should be aware that fluctuating or lower than normal river flows may expose or create natural hazards such as moving sandbars, gravel bars, unstable riverbanks, floating or submerged debris, or other unfamiliar obstacles. As always, caution should be exercised while using the river.