News Release Archive

Reclamation Maintaining Reduced Storage Level at Senator Wash Reservoir During Scheduled Maintenance

Media Contact: Doug Hendrix, (928) 343-8145, dhendrix@usbr.gov

For Release: May 17, 2013

BOULDER CITY, NV – Reclamation’s Lower Colorado Region announced today that it will continue to maintain a reduced water level at Senator Wash Dam and Reservoir for the next several weeks to accommodate drilling of new hydraulic relief wells. The work will continue for the next eight- to ten-weeks, and will result in increased operational safety at the off-stream storage reservoir.

Eight new relief wells are currently being installed at the facility along the lower Colorado River, approximately 20 miles north of Yuma, Arizona, to reduce the potential effects of normally-occurring seepage through the dam’s foundation and embankment zones.

“Elevation level of the reservoir will be maintained approximately 8 feet lower than normal until this routine work is completed at the facility in mid- to late-June,” said Jennifer McCloskey, Reclamation’s Yuma Area Office Manager. “It’s important that everyone uses caution around the facility during the period when water levels are lower.”

Senator Wash, located along the Colorado River about two miles upstream from Imperial Dam, provides swimming, fishing, boating, skiing, and wildlife viewing opportunities to recreational users and wildlife enthusiasts visiting the Yuma area. This off-stream retention reservoir improves water scheduling of the Colorado River by storing part of the river flow upstream of Imperial Dam, and releasing it to the river for downstream use when it’s needed.

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