Canyon Lake becomes the 2nd Salt River reservoir in 2 years to be drawn down for scheduled maintenance work at Mormon Flat & Horse Mesa dams.
The scheduled maintenance will result in lower levels at Canyon Lake from Sept. 29th, until about Jan. 26th. Canyon Lake will be gradually lowered to approx. 50 feet below the normal lake levels through normal water order during the 4-month drawdown. Last fall, Apache Lake was lowered about 50 feet during a similar drawdown for maintenance work at Horse Mesa Dam.
To keep dams safe and secure, the Bureau of Reclamation requires regular inspections & repair. Prior to the 2006-07 Apache Lake drawdown, maintenance work of this scope & on these components that are normally under water on the 2 dams was last performed in 1989 at Horse Mesa Dam.
Structures & equipment, including the hydroelectric facilities at Mormon Flat & Horse Mesa dams, will be examined for wear & repaired if necessary.
In addition, SRP will be performing channel-improvement work downstream of Horse Mesa Dam to maintain performance of the hydroelectric pump & turbine & to improve barge access to the power plant. The plan will prevent any water from being spilled as a result of dam maintenance & will limit the loss of hydroelectric generation during times of lower energy demand.