Grand Canyon: Colorado High River Flow Event

Grand Canyon High Water Flow

Received this in my email today:

Date: November 8, 2012

To: Grand Canyon N.P. Backcountry Permit Holders

From: Grand Canyon N.P. Backcountry Information Center

Subject: High flow event in November of 2012

You are being contacted because you are a Grand Canyon Backcountry Permit holder and will be in the canyon during a time when river levels will be higher than normal. The Department of the Interior, through the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR), will be conducting a high flow event. It is scheduled to begin on the evening of November 18th with Glen Canyon Dam ramping up to full power plant capacity (approximately 27,300 cfs). At midday on November 19th, bypass tubes at Glen Canyon Dam will be opened and releases will continue to increase up to full power plant and bypass capacity (approximately 42,300 cfs) by the evening of November 19th. Releases will be maintained at peak release for 24 hours and then begin ramping down. Releases will return to normal operations in the evening of November 23rd.

“Normal” river flows through GCNP over the last several years has been from 8,000 to 25,000 CFS. A flow over 40,000 CFS produces significant changes to the rapids as well as river campsites. While our campgrounds will not be affected, if you plan on hiking or camping along the river, you need to be aware of this higher than normal flow. Information on the high flow event can be obtained on the following website:

 http://www.nps.gov/grca/naturescience/hfe.htm

 This webpage includes links on how the high flow event may affect river campsites. If you have any questions regarding the high flow event, please reply to this email or contact the Backcountry Information Center at: (800) 638-7875.

Backcountry Permit Office Grand Canyon National Park 928-638-7875 (phone) 928-638-2125 (fax)