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Water Releases to Increase from Deer Creek Reservoir
Media Contact:
Barry Wirth, (801) 524-3774, bwirth@uc.usbr.gov
Ed Vidmar, evidmar@uc.usbr.gov
For Release: August 18, 2005
The ability of Utah's water storage facilities to recover at the end of a drought has been dramatically demonstrated at Deer Creek Dam and Reservoir on the Provo River. A year ago water levels were extremely low as the five-year drought took its toll. Now, it is not only nearly full, but Deer Creek Reservoir water levels have remained high this summer due to the favorable water year. In fact, the reservoir as of today is only 1.8 feet from full. As a comparison, last year after five years of drought, the reservoir level on the same day was 30.5 feet from full.
With the reservoir being almost full for this time of year, Reclamation intends to make additional releases to accommodate dam safety/highway relocation construction efforts at the dam. The Reservoir level will be drawn down over the next couple of months, in advance of when this would normally occur, in order to allow for an additional margin of safety for construction work at the toe of the dam. This work will connect historic seepage areas into the filter and drain system of the dam. These releases will also provide storage space which is also needed in the reservoir to accommodate next year's spring runoff.
Flows in the Provo River will increase in some reaches. To the greatest extent possible, the water released will be utilized for beneficial purposes, with some water reaching Utah Lake.
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The Bureau of Reclamation is a federal agency under the U.S. Department of the Interior and is the nation's largest wholesale water supplier and second largest producer of hydroelectric power. Our facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation opportunities, and environmental benefits. Visit our website at https://www.usbr.gov and follow us on Twitter @USBR; Facebook @bureau.of.reclamation; LinkedIn @Bureau of Reclamation; Instagram @bureau_of_reclamation; and YouTube @reclamation.
