No spill for lasers this year

Those attending the Laser Light Show and wondering when water will be released for a backdrop for the show will have to wait.

Bureau of Reclamation Public Affairs Officer Lynne Brougher said it won't likely be this year.

Brougher explained that a side seal on drum gate three is leaking and the Laser Light Show will not receive water until it is fixed. That could be next spring when the water level is low enough to work on the faulty seal.

Brougher did say that the Bureau of Reclamation is using its option to provide an increased laser brightness to try to make the show more enjoyable.

The drum gate sprang a leak recently, and facing the dam one can see water escaping on the left side of drum gate three. There was no estimate of how much water was escaping due to the leaky seal.

Brougher said that the Bureau tried to do the show with some drum gates spilling water and others not, but it wasn't satisfactory.

The water level of Lake Roosevelt behind the dam was higher than 1,289 feet above sea level Monday night, nearly full, and before work can be done to repair the seal, the water level would have to be down near 1,255, Brougher stated.

The current leaking side seal was installed in 1983, over 30 years ago.

Brougher stated that there is no current evidence that the leak is expanding.

The laser show added a three-minute cartoon at the front of the show this year, which has been well received, particularly by young people, Brougher stated.