The Colorado River Delta
Keep the Colorado River flowing to the Gulf of California
1) Require that downstream users honor their existing allocation
amounts. Presently, some users like California overdraw on their allocation which
reduces the amount of water that flows into Mexico.
2) Sign a delta restoration agreement with the Mexican Government
which would limit the Mexican take of the river to 1.5 million acre-feet per year.
They currently have the capability to withdraw almost 3 million acre-feet which is why on
many years no water flows to the gulf.
Restoring Biological Cues in Grand Canyon
Modify the Glen Canyon Dam operations to provide better seasonal cues
1) Retrofit the Glen Canyon dam so that warmer water can be released
during the summer months.
Read more on about the possible temperature control modifications
that the Bureau of Reclamation is considering.
2) Increase river flows during the month of June
Sand Bar
Restoration
Rebuild sand bars on a regular basis using short term mini-floods
1) Utilize short duration floods (3 days or so) to move sediment up
out of the main channel onto the river banks.
2) Schedule these floods on a regular basis (every 3 years or so) by
monitoring the buildup of new sediment brought in by the Paria River and Little Colorado
River.
The first effort
- 1996 Results
Before and
After Pictures
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