phebus
06-17-2006, 06:58 AM
Boaters beware. Lake Havasu isn't as deep as it usually is. And it'll be another few weeks before the levels rise back up to normal.
Several boaters have found themselves in the unfortunate position of having to get pulled off of a beach in the last week after unexpectedly running aground in areas that usually are two or three feet deeper.
Public Affairs Specialist Steve Leon with the Bureau of Reclamation said the lake level, usually between 448 and 449 feet of elevation, actually is closer to 446 feet at the moment due to increased releases from the Parker Dam.
“There have been more releases from the Parker Dam for downstream agricultural use than anticipated,” said Leon on Friday.
The Bureau of Reclamation is the federal agency responsible for controlling the flow of the Colorado River through the various dams along its length.
However, Leon said the Bureau has begun pulling more water from Lake Mohave and that Lake Havasu should be up “about a foot” by this coming Thursday and back to its normal level by the beginning of July.
“There should be plenty of water for the Fourth of July,” said Leon, indicating the Bureau was aware that, due to the calendar date of the holiday this year, holiday weekend traffic on the lake could encompass two weekends instead of just one.
“We understand it's not just one weekend,” he said.
Capt. Ken McKinney of Vessel Assist said he has been pulling a lot of people off of the beaches lately, but not just because of this particular event.
“Whenever the lake gets this low, we pull more people out,” he said. “It's relative to the lake level.”
The Bureau warns all Colorado River users to remember that fluctuating river levels may “conceal or create natural hazards such as moving sandbars, gravel bars, unstable riverbanks, floating or submerged debris, or other unfamiliar obstacles.”
Several boaters have found themselves in the unfortunate position of having to get pulled off of a beach in the last week after unexpectedly running aground in areas that usually are two or three feet deeper.
Public Affairs Specialist Steve Leon with the Bureau of Reclamation said the lake level, usually between 448 and 449 feet of elevation, actually is closer to 446 feet at the moment due to increased releases from the Parker Dam.
“There have been more releases from the Parker Dam for downstream agricultural use than anticipated,” said Leon on Friday.
The Bureau of Reclamation is the federal agency responsible for controlling the flow of the Colorado River through the various dams along its length.
However, Leon said the Bureau has begun pulling more water from Lake Mohave and that Lake Havasu should be up “about a foot” by this coming Thursday and back to its normal level by the beginning of July.
“There should be plenty of water for the Fourth of July,” said Leon, indicating the Bureau was aware that, due to the calendar date of the holiday this year, holiday weekend traffic on the lake could encompass two weekends instead of just one.
“We understand it's not just one weekend,” he said.
Capt. Ken McKinney of Vessel Assist said he has been pulling a lot of people off of the beaches lately, but not just because of this particular event.
“Whenever the lake gets this low, we pull more people out,” he said. “It's relative to the lake level.”
The Bureau warns all Colorado River users to remember that fluctuating river levels may “conceal or create natural hazards such as moving sandbars, gravel bars, unstable riverbanks, floating or submerged debris, or other unfamiliar obstacles.”