Installation of the powerplant equipment began after the dam was completed and the first hydroelectric power was generated on September 4th, 1964. Encompassing all or parts of Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Utah and Wyoming. Glen Canyon Dam, like all Reclamation dams, was constructed to the highest standards in the industry and has undergone continuous, exhaustive inspection and analyses. The river below the dam looks green due to the feathery algae called cladophora that thrives in the river. The Carl Hayden Visitor center is located at the dam, and tours of the dam are available. www.antelopepointlakepowell.com • 928-645-5900 Construction of the CRSP water storage facilities, including Glen Canyon Dam, was critical to the development of the Upper Colorado River Basin’s water and power resources. 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. Lake Powell acts as a holding tank for outflow from the Colorado River Upper Basin States: Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. The dam also generates hydroelectric power. Reclamation is committed to operating Glen Canyon Dam in accordance with the Law of the River and all applicable environmental laws. In 1963, a reservoir, Lake Powell, was created by the construction of the Glen Canyon Dam, flooding much of Glen Canyon beneath water hundreds of feet in depth. Offers scenic flights over Horseshoe Bend, Lake Powell, and Rainbow Bridge. The spillways were used in 1983 when unpredicted weather patterns altered forecasts dramatically and caused a sudden and unforeseen high magnitude runoff. The seven-year period from 2000 to 2006 was the driest seven-year period in 100 years of record keeping. Departs Moab UT. About 13.4 million acre-feet (16,500 million cubic meters), or almost one third of the reservoir’s capacity. Departs Las Vegas NV or Page AZ. 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. Enjoy a ride through a 2-mile long tunnel to the base of Glen Canyon Dam where you will walk to your river raft with sandstone walls soaring 700 feet above you. 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 … 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). One drawback to electricity is that it cannot be stored for future use. Because of the construction techniques used to build the dam, it would have been impossible for a worker to be buried in the concrete. Offers helicopter/plane tours over Lake Powell, Horseshoe Bend, Rainbow Bridge. These half-day tours are ideal for the whole family. In order to construct the dam, the Colorado River had to be channeled around the site. Hydroelectric powerplants have low failure rates, low operating costs and are very reliable. 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. Multiple boat tour options departing from Wahweap Marina, Lake Powell Northlake Special Charters The phone is not monitored when the building is closed. When the dam was complete and Lake Powell began to fill upstream, other possibilities were lost. Redtail Air • 435-259-7421 By 1966, all eight generators had been installed and were working at full capacity. What is the large crane on top of the dam used for? Can the electricity produced at Glen canyon Powerplant be stored for use at a later time? What are the benefits of using hydroelectric power? I took the tour of the Glen Canyon Dam and was amazed at the history behind building the dam and the work involved. Offers scenic flights over Canyonlands, Arches, and Monument Valley. 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. Will Glen Canyon Dam be de-commissioned and Lake Powell drained? (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 … Hydroelectric power is a clean, renewable form of energy that does not pollute the air, land, or water. Dams are designed to handle seepage; no dam or foundation for a dam is absolutely impervious to seeping water. All Reclamation dams are evaluated according to state-of-the-art engineering and geological standards. Wilderness River Adventures The sandstone walls of Glen Canyon contain natural fractures that allow water from Lake Powell to seep through them and into various tunnels in the dam. Because of the complexities of the Colorado River ecosystem in Glen and Grand Canyons and the impact of Glen Canyon Dam on the ecosystem, years of scientific research and development of a comprehensive environmental impact statement attempted to identify alternative operational strategies for the dam that would improve the downstream environment. Spillway repair at Glen Canyon Dam after the flood of June 1983. But since power demand varies greatly during the day and night, this job becomes quite complex. This might be considered the effective life of the project. Wallets and cameras are welcome. 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. 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. Are there any federally-listed endangered species living in the Grand Canyon below Glen Canyon Dam? Ken Sleight remembers the stunning beauty of Glen Canyon before it was flooded by a massive dam in the 1960s. Congress created Glen Canyon Dam and only Congress can remove it. 435-684-3062 The dam is a federally owned facility; therefore, security measures are in place. Receptionist available at Glen Canyon Headquarters from 7 am to 4 pm MST, Monday through Friday. (928) 608-6200 Visit their website for more information about tour options. ☏ Bookstore: (928) 608-6068 When each bucket load was released, there were many workers waiting to smooth out the concrete with special equipment. Glen Canyon Dam may release more water to cope with COVID electricity needs. It provides a framework for a collaborative, iterative process of experimentation, evaluation, and modification necessary to achieve improved results over time. Since hydroelectric generators can be started and stopped almost instantly, hydropower is more responsive than other energy sources in meeting changing power needs. The Carl Hayden Visitor Center is located at the dam, and tours of the dam are available. The best way to experience the Colorado River's grandeur is aboard a half-day Horseshoe Bend Raft Trip. Seepage is not only tolerable, but normal. In addition to its significant recreation value, Lake Powell functions as a vast ‘bank account’ of water that can be drawn on during dry years. 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. It took many buckets of concrete, dumped one at a time, to fill each block. Once completed, Glen Canyon Dam would provide vital water storage that would allow the Upper Colorado River Basin states of Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, and New Mexico to utilize their share of the Colorado River, especially during times of drought, while providing the required delivery of water to the Lower Basin states of California, Nevada, and Arizona. 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. 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. 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 water that flows into Lake Powell originates as snowpack high in the mountains of Colorado. About two to three percent of the lake’s water evaporates into the atmosphere each year. Tours of Glen Canyon Dam. The following companies offer air tours over Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Tours of the Glen Canyon Dam offer you the chance to learn about history and engineering. Smooth water float trips on the Colorado River from the Glen Canyon Dam to Lees Ferry. Glen Canyon Dam is the principal water storage unit of the Colorado River Storage Project. ☏ Tour Desk: (928) 608-6072, Historic photo of first aerial tram bucket during construction of Glen Canyon Dam, Photo of Lake Powell at total capacity in 1980, Hydropower Generators at Glen Canyon Dam Powerplant, Glen Canyon Dam at Night During High Flow Release, Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Program, Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Program, New Mexico Pueblos Irrigation Infrastructure Improvement Project, Water Conservation Field Services Program, Glen Canyon Dam Long-Term Experimental & Management Plan, Glen Canyon Dam High Flow Experimental Releases, National Park Service – Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, National Park Service – Grand Canyon National Park, Glen Canyon Dam Environmental Impact Statement. How much coal would it take to produce that same amount of power? 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. The debate over Glen Canyon Dam … Food and beverages are prohibited, but feel free to bring in a water bottle. Highway 89 North