Each year, the lake level increases between May and July from runoff followed by a decrease in lake level throughout the remainder of the year, leaving a visible ring along the shoreline. The dam is a federally owned facility; therefore, security measures are in place. How do vehicles get to the bottom of the dam? The water that flows into Lake Powell originates as snowpack high in the mountains of Colorado. Glen Canyon Dam, like all Reclamation dams, was constructed to the highest standards in the industry and has undergone continuous, exhaustive inspection and analyses. Consequently, a utility company must have the capacity to provide power instantly to meet public needs. The Carl Hayden Visitor center is located at the dam, and tours of the dam are available. Reclamation’s Dam Safety Program standards have been peer reviewed and approved by dam safety experts from the Association of State Dam Safety Officials and other federal agencies. Multi-night, multi tour opportunities. New challenges are arising as drought has impacted the Colorado River. For these reasons, each year through appropriation legislation, Congress repeatedly says “no” to the proposal to drain Lake Powell. This stored water has made it possible to successfully weather extended dry periods by sustaining the needs of cities, industries, and agriculture throughout the West. During the unusual hydrologic circumstances of 1983, Glen Canyon Dam was never in danger of failing. Which is taller, Glen Canyon Dam or Hoover Dam? Hundreds of rock bolts were installed by high scalers to reinforce the canyon walls and prevent rock slabs from falling. Offers flights over Lake Powell, Horseshoe Bend, and Rainbow Bridge. Prior to the dam’s construction, extensive geologic studies were completed and then reevaluated in 1985 to determine if, following construction and filling of the reservoir, conditions had changed. We move small boats from the launch ramp at Lees Ferry (the beginning of the Grand Canyon) 15 miles up the Colorado River to just below the Glen Canyon Dam that creates Lake Powell. The initial operation of Glen Canyon Dam focused on storing and releasing water to the Lower Basin states pursuant to the Colorado River Compact and generating power. Lake Powell began filling on March 13, 1963 and completed filling on June 22, 1980 reaching elevation 3,700 feet above sea level with a total capacity of over 26 million acre-feet of water. Which is taller, Glen Canyon Dam or Hoover Dam and which is larger, Lake Powell or Lake Mead? Glen Canyon Dam impounds Lake Powell, the second largest reservoir in the country. On December 13, 2007, the Secretary signed new interim operational guidelines that established rules for shortages, surpluses, and coordination of operations between Lake Powell and Lake Mead, and encourage new initiatives for water conservation. The enormous quantity of concrete used in the dam could not be placed all at one time. www.lakepowell.com • 800-528-6154 Glen Canyon Dam is the key water storage unit of the Colorado River Storage Project, one of the most complex and extensive river resource developments in the world. The construction of Glen Canyon Dam in 1964 created Lake Powell. Congress created Glen Canyon Dam and only Congress can remove it. The large crane can lift 165 tons (162 metric tons) with its big hoist and 25 tons (24.6 metric tons) with its smaller one. Lake Powell provides vital long-term carry-over storage that is critical to the Upper Colorado River Basin states, especially in times of drought. Offers air/land tours over Grand Canyon and Four Corners region. Glen Canyon Dam was completed in 1964, taming the waters of the Colorado River and creating massive Lake Powell, a popular recreation area along the Utah/Arizona border. The best way to experience the Colorado River's grandeur is aboard a half-day Horseshoe Bend Raft Trip. The material excavated from the tunnels was used to make the coffer dam. Possibilities for another generation of people to explore and enjoy the history, scenery, geology, and archeology of Glen Canyon and the dozens of side canyons in their natural state disappeared. The CRSP also provides for recreation and improves conditions for fish and wildlife. Under that scenario, hydropower facilities generate the power that is necessary to restart the system, which includes other power generating sources such as coal, natural gas, and nuclear facilities. In 1957, Reclamation constructed a government camp close to the dam site in northeastern Arizona to house construction workers and their families and to provide community services. The 26.2 million acre-feet of water storage capacity in Lake Powell, created by Glen Canyon Dam, serves as a ‘bank account’ of water that is drawn on in times of drought. Soaring 710 feet and anchored in Navajo sandstone, the dam was conceived in desert thirst, born into controversy, and swaddled in argument. Without Glen Canyon Dam, the annual water delivery obligations to the Lower Basin could likely not be met during drought periods without creating significant shortages in the Upper Basin. Hydroelectric power is a clean, renewable form of energy that does not pollute the air, land, or water. The contract for Glen Canyon Dam was the largest single construction contract in the history of the Bureau of Reclamation. It would take 2.5 million tons of coal or 11 million barrels of oil each year to generate the same amount of power (based upon an approximate conversion rate of 580 kilowatt-hours per barrel of oil and 1,822 kilowatt-hours per ton of coal). There is a two mile (3.2-kilometer) dam-access tunnel through the east wall of Glen Canyon that begins on the mesa. Once the concrete was spread out within each block, the maximum depth of fresh concrete that a worker could have fallen into was only 12 inches (30 centimeters). They are not authorized to land inside park boundaries or fly under Rainbow Bridge National Monument. Visit their website for more information about tour options. The first dynamite blast in Glen Canyon occurred on October 15, 1956 when President Dwight D. Eisenhower pressed a telegraph key from Washington D.C. to set off the explosion signaling the beginning of construction. About 2,600 gallons per minute (9,841 liters per minute) seep into the dam, which is not a large amount of water for a structure this size. Hoover Dam, which stands 726 feet (221 meters) tall, is 16 feet (4.9 meters) taller than Glen Canyon Dam which stands 710 feet (216 meters) tall. 435-684-3062 The Carl Hayden Visitor Center is located at the dam, and tours of the dam are available. Glen Canyon Dam is the second highest concrete-arch dam in the United States, second only to Hoover Dam which stands at 726 feet. Our guide was fantastic and took the time to answer any questions. Glenn Canyon Dam. It evokes redrock canyons buried beneath the still blue waters of Lake Powell. Offers scenic flights/land tours over Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, Lake Powell, Rainbow Bridge. Not all of Glen Canyon is submerged, however. The hydropower plant provides system reliability for the overall regional power grid and is the primary unit to assist in a "black start" of the power system following a blackout failure. How much water was absorbed into the rock of the canyon walls during the inital filling of Lake Powell? How much water from Lake Powell is lost into the atmosphere by evaporation? Why does the lake look so blue and the river below the dam look so green? The dam is a federally owned facility; therefore, security measures are in place. Reclamation managed the community of Page during and after construction of the dam until the town was transferred to private ownership pursuant to the 1974 legislation authorizing incorporation. Our Colorado river tours travel either 15 river miles when beginning at the base of the Glen Canyon Dam (motorized & kayak trips) or 10 miles (kayak trips) when put in at petroglyph beach. Glen Canyon proved to be the perfect location, although because it was such a remote site, it presented some unique construction challenges. Spillway repair at Glen Canyon Dam after the flood of June 1983. Page, Arizona 86040 In 1963, a reservoir, Lake Powell, was created by the construction of the Glen Canyon Dam, in the Arizona portion of Glen Canyon near Page, inundating much of Glen … In 1963, Glen Canyon was pronounced dead. Approximately 4.5 billion kilowatt-hours. The debate over Glen Canyon Dam … Because of the many significant benefits provided by Lake Powell, Congress continues to include a direct prohibition concerning any planning actions or expenditure of public funds related to consideration or actions toward draining Lake Powell. Tours of the Glen Canyon Dam offer you the chance to learn about history and engineering. The dam also generates hydroelectric power. Can the electricity produced at Glen canyon Powerplant be stored for use at a later time? In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972, the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) is publishing this notice to announce that a Federal Advisory Committee meeting of the Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Work Group (AMWG) will take place. Receptionist available at Glen Canyon Headquarters from 7 am to 4 pm MST, Monday through Friday. The dam-access tunnel is not open to the public. Smooth water float trips on the Colorado River from the Glen Canyon Dam to Lees Ferry. No changes were identified. Glen Canyon Conservancy provides tours of Glen Canyon Dam. There are no plans to de-commission Glen Canyon Dam and drain Lake Powell. Lake Powell’s deep blue color results from the fact that it is a relatively clear body of water that reflects the color of the sky. Redtail Air • 435-259-7421 Highway 89 North This algae forms the basis of a highly productive food chain and is an important source of nutrients for many species living below the dam. It's quite a feeling to be at the bottom of the dam knowing that it is the only thing holding back all that water! 4,901,000 cubic yards (3,750,000 cubic meters), 469,000 cubic yards (359,000 cubic meters), 26,215,000 acre-feet (32,336 million cubic meters). However, what we were able to do and enjoy was first rate. Taylor Graham’s film “Seldom Seen Sleight” – winner of the Yale Environment 360 Video Contest – shows the magnificent landscape … As drought conditions persist in the Southwest, the water storage in Lake Powell is especially critical. I took the tour of the Glen Canyon Dam and was amazed at the history behind building the dam and the work involved. Glen Canyon Dam is the principal water storage unit of the Colorado River Storage Project. A coffer, or temporary dam, was constructed upstream of the dam site to redirect the river through two, 3000 foot-long, 45 foot diameter diversion tunnels dug through the walls on each side of the canyon. You may also want to go to the sacred, historic Rainbow Bridge National Monument. You will pass through a metal detector, and armed guards are in place throughout the facility. Glen Canyon Conservancy provides tours of Glen Canyon Dam. Glen Canyon Dam created Lake Powell, one of Utah's most popular beach and boating destinations. Built in a virtually inaccessible area, it is one of the major engineering and construction achievements in the United States. All water that leaks into the dam is routed through measurement weirs, then diverted to troughs at the base of the dam and is discharged to the river below. Lake Powell provides long-term carryover water storage that allows the Upper Basin states of Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah to use their share of the Colorado River while still providing the required delivery of water to the Lower Basin states of Arizona, California, and Nevada. Wallets and cameras are welcome. ☏ Bookstore: (928) 608-6068 The flow of the Colorado River is controlled by the Glen Canyon Dam, therefore, the current occurring in the 15-mile stretch between the base of the dam (where you get backhauled to) and Lees Ferry is very gentle. The main purpose of the gantry crane is to periodically withdraw the penstock fixed-wheel gates from beneath Lake Powell’s surface and place them on the dam crest where they can be inspected. Subsequently, the bridge was transferred to the state of Arizona. Construction of the 1,271 foot-long steel-arch bridge 700 feet above the river, was completed in January 1959, reducing a 200-mile trip to cross the river to less than a quarter mile. The phone is not monitored when the building is closed. What percent of the nation's food is grown with the Colorado River? The tunnel was blasted prior to construction of Glen Canyon Dam in order to transport heavy equipment and supplies to the canyon floor. Dams are designed to handle seepage; no dam or foundation for a dam is absolutely impervious to seeping water. When the dam was complete and Lake Powell began to fill upstream, other possibilities were lost. One drawback to electricity is that it cannot be stored for future use. Because there were no rail facilities near the construction site, a bridge was built to allow trucks to deliver material and equipment across the canyon. Lake Powell is 114.98 feet below Full Pool (Elevation 3,700) By content, Lake Powell is 42.66% of Full Pool (24,322,000 af) Total inflows for water year 2021: 622,077 acre feet. Page became an incorporated town on March 1, 1975. Both are located in north-central Arizona near the Utah border. The spillways were used in 1983 when unpredicted weather patterns altered forecasts dramatically and caused a sudden and unforeseen high magnitude runoff. It took many buckets of concrete, dumped one at a time, to fill each block. When each bucket load was released, there were many workers waiting to smooth out the concrete with special equipment. Departs Page AZ, Grand Canyon AZ, Phoenix AZ, Las Vegas NV. Just last month, the level of the water at Lake Powell reached an all-time low . Departs Las Vegas NV, Henderson NV, Grand Canyon AZ. How many kilowatt-hours of power does Glen Canyon Dam's powerplant produce annually? The extremely high water releases through the spillways caused cavitation damage in which the concrete in the tunnels was eroded. No knives or weapons will be permitted in the building. "It was huge," recalled Page Mayor Bill Diak, then a … With the river diverted, crews began work to excavate down 137 feet to the canyon’s bedrock for the dam’s foundation, and concrete placement began in June 1960. (928) 608-6200 Tours of Glen Canyon Dam. Water rushing from first two jet tubes opened for high-flow experiment at Glen Canyon Dam - March 5, 2008, View from top of dam of all four jet tubes open releasing water for high-flow experiment - March 5, 2008, Glen Canyon Dam and all four jet tubes open releasing water for high-flow experiment - March 5, 2008, Night view of Glen Canyon Dam and all four jet tubes open releasing water during high-flow experiment - March 5, 2008, Aerial view of Glen Canyon Dam and Lake Powell, Glen Canyon Dam, Powerplant and transformer deck, Glen Canyon Dam with all four jet tubes open during March 2006 high-flow experiment, Glen Canyon Dam penstock intakes - July 2004, Glen Canyon Dam penstock intakes - July 2008, Transmission towers on the canyon wall - Glen Canyon Dam, Carl Hayden Visitor Center at Glen Canyon Dam, View of Carl Hayden Visitor Center from base of Glen Canyon Dam, View of Glen Canyon Dam from downstream viewpoint, Glen Canyon Dam construction cableways - 1963, Commemoration of 50 percent completion of oncrete haul for dam construction, Glen Canyon Dam and bridge construction - 1963, Aerial view of Glen Canyon Dam during construction - 1963, Aerial of the dam site and work on the keyway - 1960, Glen Canyon Dam spillway construction - 1962, First Lady, Mrs. Lyndon B. Johnson dedicates the dam -1966, Glen Canyon dam construction and penstock installation - February 1961, Glen Canyon Bridge dedication ceremony - 1959, Glen Canyon switchyard construction - 1964, Aerial view of trailer park housing for workers - 1958, Aerial view of Wahweap Marina - Lake Powell, Horseshoe Bend downstream from Glen Canyon Dam, Kids jumping off houseboat near Wahweap - Lake Powell, Rafters at Lees Ferry prepare for trip through the Grand Canyon. Water stored in Lake Powell provides municipal, industrial, agricultural benefits as well as recreation opportunities and hydropower production. Lake Powell Resorts and Marinas State highways were extended to the remote construction site and the Glen Canyon Bridge was constructed across the Colorado River to join the highways. Seepage is controlled to prevent erosion. The concrete was transported in 24-ton capacity buckets via an aerial tramway strung across the canyon from a concrete mixing plant constructed nearby. Former Reclamation Commissioner, John W. Keys III said, "Previous administrations of both political parties, as well as the U.S. Congress, have said that Glen Canyon Dam is here to stay because it is serving millions of people in the Southwestern United States. Seepage is not only tolerable, but normal. Was anyone buried in the concrete during construction of Glen Canyon Dam? These half-day tours are ideal for the whole family. The day to day operation and maintenance of Glen Canyon Dam and Powerplant is performed by the Glen Canyon Field Division of the Power Office and is funded from revenue received from the sale of Colorado River Storage Project power. What are the benefits of using hydroelectric power? But since power demand varies greatly during the day and night, this job becomes quite complex. Beautiful vistas with lots of history. Glen Canyon Dam is the key storage unit in a far-reaching water development plan called the Colorado River Storage Project. As a result, the temperature of the water deep below the lake’s surface is about 44 degrees F (7 degrees C) year-round, keeping the dam cold inside. Will Glen Canyon Dam be de-commissioned and Lake Powell be drained? Offers air/land tours in the Four Corners area. This community called Page in honor of Reclamation Commissioner John C. Page. Water releases through the powerplant fluctuated as the powerplant responded to power system load changes, peak load demands, regulation of the power system and power system emergencies. As designed, Glen Canyon Dam would be the third highest dam in the world, 700 feet above the lowest bedrock (Hoover Dam was 726 feet high and Mauvoisin Dam in Switzerland was 780 feet in height). Glen Canyon Dam impounds Lake Powell, the second largest reservoir in the country. Reclamation also constructed a switchyard at the dam, two 345 kilovolt (kV) transmission lines to Phoenix, Arizona and a 230 kV line to Farmington, New Mexico. The holes in the wall are adits or “windows” that were initially blasted out for the purpose of allowing excavated rock to be dumped to the river banks below. Departs Santa Fe NM. Glen Canyon Dam is the principal water storage unit of the Colorado River Storage Project. All orders are custom made and most ship worldwide within 24 hours. The adits now allow for circulation of air in the tunnel. All of the bodies were recovered and accounted for and no one was buried inside the dam. (Rob Schumacher | The Arizona Republic / Associated Press file photo) The Glen Canyon Dam, near Page, Ariz. On Sunday, Oct. 4, 2020, a man died in a fall at the Glen Canyon Dam … The result was the Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Program, designed to provide an organization and process for collaborative integration of dam operations, resource protection and management, and monitoring and research information. Bags and purses are prohibited on the tour. NPS. By 1966, all eight generators had been installed and were working at full capacity. Since hydroelectric generators can be started and stopped almost instantly, hydropower is more responsive than other energy sources in meeting changing power needs. Without it, development of the Upper Colorado River Basin states’ portion of the Colorado River would not have been possible. The powerplant, consisting of eight hydroelectric generating units with a combined capacity of 1,320 megawatts, is a significant part of the CRSP power resources with 79 percent of the total CRSP capacity. The temperature inside the dam remains fairly constant at 50 degrees F (10 degrees C) year-round. The Record of Decision for the Glen Canyon Dam Environmental Impact Statement, signed in 1996, specified operating parameters for Glen Canyon Dam and mandated adaptive management of the resources in Grand Canyon. Papillon Airways • 888-635-7272 Hydroelectric powerplants have low failure rates, low operating costs and are very reliable. Offers helicopter/plane tours over Lake Powell, Horseshoe Bend, Rainbow Bridge. Lake Powell extends through the main corridor of Glen Canyon as well as into over 90 side canyons that extend outward. Lake Powell acts as a holding tank for outflow from the Colorado River Upper Basin States: Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. However, it is currently estimated that the lake will fill with silt in 700 to 1,000 years. Federal endangered species living in the Grand Canyon below the dam include the humpback chub, razorback sucker, southwestern willow flycatcher and the Kanab ambersnail. www.riveradventures.com Your friendly guide will help you aboard our roomy 32-foot raft. When full, Lake Mead, which holds 28,537,000 acre-feet (35,200 million cubic meters) of water, is larger than Lake Powell which holds 26,215,000 acre-feet (32,336 million cubic meters) of water when full. Glen Canyon Dam currently maintains 30 mw (approximately 800 cfs) of generation capacity in reserve in order to respond to a system emergency even when generation rates are already high. With a total capacity of 1,320 megawatts, Glen Canyon Powerplant produces around five billion kilowatt-hours of hydroelectric power annually which is distributed by the Western Area Power Administration to Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, and Nebraska. The phone is not monitored when the building is closed. Departs Page AZ, Flagstaff AZ, Sedona AZ, Grand Canyon AZ, Phoenix AZ. Maverick Helicopters • 888-261-4414 Receptionist available at Glen Canyon Headquarters from 7 am to 4 pm MST, Monday through Friday. The CRSP was authorized on April 11, 1956 to regulate the flow of the Colorado River; provide for flood control; provide for storage and delivery of water for irrigation, municipal, industrial, and other beneficial purposes; and generate electrical power. Guided tours of Glen Canyon Dam and Powerplant are provided by the Glen Canyon Conservancy, and begin at the visitor center. Offers air/land tours for Antelope Canyon, Tower Butte. When the dam was completed and Lake Powell was formed in 1963, the irregular flows of the Colorado River were brought under control. The designation of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area in 1972, underscores the value and importance of the recreation benefits associated with Lake Powell and the Colorado River downstream of the dam. All Reclamation dams are evaluated according to state-of-the-art engineering and geological standards. Prior to reaching completion, Glen Canyon Dam began impounding water in March 1963 when the diversion tunnels were closed and Lake Powell was born. Reclamation is committed to operating Glen Canyon Dam in accordance with the Law of the River and all applicable environmental laws. Built in a virtually inaccessible area, it is one of the major engineering and construction achievements in the United States. Grand Canyon Airlines • 866-235-9422 Lake Powell is about 186 miles long and attracts almost 3.5 million visitors a year.