Bad news for Powell and Mead...

[Outnumbered]

Just read this morning that Colorado had its driest March in 100 years. Not good news for Powell and Mead which are down 117 and 90 feet respectively.
Colorado Story Link (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,116308,00.html)
Water Levels (http://www.gf.state.az.us/h_f/edits/lake_levels.html)
I thought that they were having a good winter in the Rockies. Anybody have any snow-pack news or lake level forecasts?
OL

[LaveyJet]

Originally posted by Old Lavey
I thought that they were having a good winter in the Rockies. Anybody have any snow-pack news or lake level forecasts?
OL
April-July runoff forecast (http://www.cbrfc.noaa.gov/wsup/water/uc/2004/uc_ap.pdf)

[COELIMINATOR]

We had an excellent winter until March. It turned warm, temps in the high 70s even into the 80s. Set records for high temps and low moisture. We usually receive a great deal of snow in March and even April. Not happening this year. Monday we did get a good deal of moisture, but it will have to "DUMP" in April to even come close to catching up. Sam

[roln 20s]

I heard on the radio that- at the current "drought" they are experiencing, Lake Powell could be dry by 2007. This can't happen, its way too awesome of a place.
Roln 20s

[Outnumbered]

Originally posted by roln 20s
I heard on the radio that- at the current "drought" they are experiencing, Lake Powell could be dry by 2007. This can't happen, its way too awesome of a place.
Roln 20s
Looks like the tree huggers may "Save Lake Powell" afterall:frown:
Its not all the weather/drought though. We are taking way too much water out of the Colorado system. Cali needs to start building de-salinization plants and Vegas and Phoenix need some building restrictions (as much as I hate to say it) until the system has a chance to recover. If Powell goes dry then Mead is not far behind:eek:
What was the source of the radio report. That is just scary.
OL

[Essex502]

Two words - Global Warming.

[al cole'holic]

Originally posted by Essex502
Two words - Global Warming.
Two more, BULL SHIT :D

[BajaMike]

I don't think Lake Powell water levels are related to water use in California, Nevada or Arizona.....I don't think any major amount of water is taken out of the Colorado River above Lake Powell.
The problem is the Rocky Mountain (lack of) snow. I was in Vail and Breckenridge in Feb/March, and off the ski runs, in many places there was only 1 foot or less of snow (and this is at 8000 foot altitude). Last year it was a little better, but not like it used to be. I remember years when the snow was 8 to 15 feet deep in March.
I'm not a believer in global warming, but there definately are cycles, and we are in down cycle.
:yuk:

[Jeff Fry]

Alot of it was from Filling Diamond Valley. But its also giveing them the oppourtunity to fix the ramps all long the lake, (Lake Mead Marina, Hemingway, Caulville, Temple Bar , and Echo, and overton. Also just look at all the new beaches! lol

[Outnumbered]

Originally posted by BajaMike
I don't think Lake Powell water levels are related to water use in California, Nevada or Arizona.....I don't think any major amount of water is taken out of the Colorado River above Lake Powell.
The problem is the Rocky Mountain (lack of) snow. I was in Vail and Breckenridge in Feb/March, and off the ski runs, in many places there was only 1 foot or less of snow (and this is at 8000 foot altitude). Last year it was a little better, but not like it used to be. I remember years when the snow was 8 to 15 feet deep in March.
I'm not a believer in global warming, but there definately are cycles, and we are in down cycle.
:yuk:
I too think Global Warming is BS. But where do you think that all of the water in Mead, Mohave, and Havasu comes from??? You have to be kidding if you don't think that the millions of water consumers and farming in SoCal, Vegas, and Phoenix do not draw water from Lake Powell indirectly. By the time the Colorado river reaches the Gulf of Mexico it is like a large creek or stream. Where do you think all of that water flowing past the casinos in Laughlin goes?
Mead is Vegas' only real water source. At least SoCal has the Nor-Cal canals in addition to the Colorado river canals and Phoenix has the Salt River Project.
Not trying to be a dick I just think this kind of ignorance is why people don't realize what is going on until its too late. Same shit happened here in Lake Arrowhead and now the lake is going dry due to overbuilding and they are all scrambling to get more water. They were warned 10 years ago but did not listen.
True we are in a drought cycle and that compounds the problem. But at the current growth rates in Vegas, Phoenix, and SoCal, the Colorado River reservoir system will not be sufficient forever.
OL

[burtandnancy]

Leaving in the next hour or so (maybe dark AM) but need to get the boat back into its slip. I'm hoping I can launch at Lake Mead Marina, but have a stepped bottom boat and need to float it off the bunks before the truck submerges. If that doesn't work, I'll have to drive around to Callville where theres still some slope to the ramp. Will report in Monday 4-12-4...

[Ziggy]

Originally posted by Jeff Fry
Alot of it was from Filling Diamond Valley. But its also giveing them the oppourtunity to fix the ramps all long the lake, (Lake Mead Marina, Hemingway, Caulville, Temple Bar , and Echo, and overton. Also just look at all the new beaches! lol
And I doubt they'd be fixing and installing ramps if they didn't anticipate the water level returning.
The weather patern is cyclical, I well remember heavy snow packs in the late 70's early 80's and then again 10-12 years later. It'll come again but its anyones guess when, certainly the weathermen don't seem to have a grasp of it:rolleyes:

[DEEZ NUTTS]

The Indians must know something about Powell as they are spending umpteen millions on a new marina and hopefully casino at Antelope point. Slips are already being reserved.

[BajaMike]

Where is Antelope Point from Waweep or Page....how far??
:confused:

[DEEZ NUTTS]

You pass Antelope point going up lake from Wahweep just a few miles from the dam. If you where at the lake last year you passed it. The ramp was way way way out of the water.

[Boozer]

You guys are concerned about Powell???
What about all of our reservoirs? It affects more then boating for us. We cant even water our lawns! We live in a natural Alpine enviorment and I ahve seen more grass in the mohave then I have here in Colorado. It's looking horrible here and it is only going to get worse. We are limited toh ow many gallons of water we are able to consume on a monthly basis due to the water restrictions. Our best reservoir in the state is down like 45'+ and I hate to think what it is going to look like this year.
I'm sorry you guys are losing powell but I am even more sorry that I am loosing my front lawn and trees.
:mad: :mad:

[pleasantcat]

yep i agree we ( arizona and nevada) need to curb the building frenzy that is now killing our water supply. here in the valley we depend on the colorado river for a majority of our water. lake pleasant is filled by the colorado for irrigation and i'm sure consumption. it's sad that people take these things for granted and believe we can keep exploiting our resources with no consiquences. i'm not saying i'm perfect as i do have a nice lawn and love to boat year round. but, i am very worried that it will all be gone soon. just my .02

[AgentX85239]

just out of curiousity, was the colorado river fed by the ocean at one time also?

[Outnumbered]

Originally posted by AgentX85239
just out of curiousity, was the colorado river fed by the ocean at one time also?
Huh:confused:

[bigpapasean]

Not unless water flows up hill

[cc322]

Working in the water field it wont be long before we will be drinking treated water from raw sewage its allready being looked at:eek:

[Screaming Pete]

I love global warming it's my time of YEAR!!!:cool:

[Seadog]

Technically, removing the water from sewage to make drinking water is feasible and cheaper than making water from seawater, but the public perception and the lawyers make it very unattractive. The best bet is where they have dewatering pits along the sewer system, do minor treatment so it is clean/odorless and then pump it to locations that can use it for irrigation, like parks and golf courses. Some communities also use it for fire protection.

[Essex502]

Originally posted by al cole'holic
Two more, BULL SHIT :D
Can you dispute our weather patterns changing? If so you'd make more money in meteorology than on here.

[Outnumbered]

Originally posted by Essex502
Can you dispute our weather patterns changing? If so you'd make more money in meteorology than on here.
No question weather patterns are changing. But like someone else said, its most likely a cycle or pattern. All this Global Warming BS is still just theory and most of it is put out by the Sierra Club types that just want to close down every forest, lake, and desert so that people don't disturb its natural state. Then we can all sit home and watch the Discovery channel to get our outdoor fix.
OL

[Essex502]

Global warming is not myth. Note that I am certainly NOT a tree hugger and enjoy all of my power toys that consume vast quantities of natural resources but the evidence is there that permanently altered weather patterns are occuring.

[eliminatedsprinter]

Originally posted by Essex502
Can you dispute our weather patterns changing? If so you'd make more money in meteorology than on here.
No you won't, there's no money in it. The vast majority of climatologists think it's a joke and nobody listens to them. The "scientists" who are signing on to the pop theory of human caused global warming are almost all "social scientists" with very far left political leanings. My climatology prof called it "still coming out of the last ice age" and saw it as no cause for alarm at all. There have been many periods of climate change in the earths history and what is happening now (if anything) is really very mild. For example, fossel records indicate that sometime between 40 and 60 thousand years ago the earths avg temp may have increased by as much as 6 degrees in as little as 30 years. :eek!: Those neanderthals must have drove some baaaaad SUVs to have caused that!;)

[LakeRacer]

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't one explosive volcano such as Mt. St. Helens or Mt. Pinatubo spit out more toxic chemicals and greenhouse gasses than all of mankind has since the industrial age? And how many active volcanoes on the surface of the earth spewing this stuff out constantly?
IMHO, we (humans) are a pimple on the face of the earth. Scientists just 20 years ago didn't even fully understand what El Nino is but now we have global warming activists who say we are having a major impact on our weather?

[mmered8299]

Originally posted by cc322
Working in the water field it wont be long before we will be drinking treated water from raw sewage its allready being looked at:eek: What do you think happens to the treated sewage water here in Vegas? Goes into lake mead @ Vegas Wash and then downstream the water intake for Vegas is on Saddle Island.

[eliminatedsprinter]

Originally posted by LakeRacer
Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't one explosive volcano such as Mt. St. Helens or Mt. Pinatubo spit out more toxic chemicals and greenhouse gasses than all of mankind has since the industrial age? And how many active volcanoes on the surface of the earth spewing this stuff out constantly?
IMHO, we (humans) are a pimple on the face of the earth. Scientists just 20 years ago didn't even fully understand what El Nino is but now we have global warming activists who say we are having a major impact on our weather?
We are a bit more than a pimple (in terms of our potential to do evironmental damage). But that still pretty well sums it up in terms of our effect on global climate. Providing we don't do something really stupid, like have a major nuclear war. :cool:

[DickDanger]

Maybe if everyone who frequents Powell /Mead were to bring their garden hoses from home, and start filling the lakes....... :p
-DD Out

[Rexone]

Originally posted by mmered8299
What do you think happens to the treated sewage water here in Vegas?
Ever had a free whiskey and water at local casino? ;)

[Rexone]

Originally posted by AgentX85239
just out of curiousity, was the colorado river fed by the ocean at one time also?
Yes it still is actually through evaporation and the resultant precipatation.

[Thunderbutt]

I don't remember the year, but wasn't the Colorado lake chain so full that when they released the water it flooded the parker strip. What year was that?

[shueman]

From what I know, the water on this earth is finite. It may take different forms, be in different places, but we can't make more nor use up what we have.
There's alot of interesting stuff on the BLM website, including flow reports for the Colorado dating back to the early 1900's.
Mead was created to harness the Colorado from flooding downstream and to generate electricity. Gotta have that power. Powell was also part of the flood plan and to hold reserves for downstream needs. Every drop is promised out; when you go into Mexico, south of Yuma, there's nothing left (which I understand is going to change as well.
What's interesting to me is the hotter the area, the more water you see being used for LANDSCAPING..!! Look at the water holes around Palm Springs golf courses. Look at the fountains in LV, and now places like Lake Las Vegas. Phoenix has this HUGE lake right off the 10 Frwy near downtown. What's it for, meditation?
We are in a 20 year cycle of weather that has repeated itself many times, and is about to change over the next 3-5 years. As our Southwest population continues to grow, so will the price of our water. Someone told me that local rates could easily TRIPLE in the near future to help pay for alternative sourcces like de-salting plants.
It is sad to see our beloved boating areas under these current conditions, but it's just a 'blip' in the cycle of water, and time.
Boat safe..!!

[AdrenelineOD]

Originally posted by AgentX85239
just out of curiousity, was the colorado river fed by the ocean at one time also? U R Not a roofer and never waterproof anything and you`ll be ok!:D

[sleekvino]

thats to bad up here in nor cal we have lakes all over at 100%.guess if you guys need to we would let you use up some space.

[OGShocker]

Originally posted by Essex502
Two words - Global Warming.
When are you selling all your toys?:rolleyes:

[1979tarva]

here in vegas we are only allowed to water on certain days and there are water cops who can give you a ticket for watering your lawn too much at the wrong time or for the water going down the sidewalk and not on your grass. we also werent allowed to wash our cars or anything else outside for a few months.
lake mead was so full 12 years ago that they were letting water over the spill ways for almost 5 years. someone said something about the water being released about a year ago from the dam and it washing out the ramp at parker. that was part of a plan to clean up the river channel below the dam to help with the flow ao water.
i believe that they need to start to control groth here in nevada but i believe that they have by not selling many water permits for new projects here.

[1979tarva]

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Study/LakeMead/lake_mead.html
this page has a lot about the water levels

[Outnumbered]

Originally posted by 1979tarva
here in vegas we are only allowed to water on certain days and there are water cops who can give you a ticket for watering your lawn too much at the wrong time or for the water going down the sidewalk and not on your grass. we also werent allowed to wash our cars or anything else outside for a few months.
lake mead was so full 12 years ago that they were letting water over the spill ways for almost 5 years. someone said something about the water being released about a year ago from the dam and it washing out the ramp at parker. that was part of a plan to clean up the river channel below the dam to help with the flow ao water.
i believe that they need to start to control groth here in nevada but i believe that they have by not selling many water permits for new projects here.
I don't know about you, but it pisses me off to no end that on one hand they tell the existing home-owners that they can't water, wash their cars, put in certain types of landscape, etc. And then on the other hand, they allow new developments to go in left and right. If water is so scarce then why build tens of thousands of new homes? If the growth in the Vegas area has been limited by water permits, I would hate to see what it would be like with no limitations. Take a ride out to Summerlin, Henderson, North LV, or any other fringe area and they are building like friggin' crazy.
OL

[Essex502]

Originally posted by OGShocker
When are you selling all your toys?:rolleyes:
By the time it gets really serious...I won't be able to enjoy them. I'm not on a soap box with the global warming...just stating that it's occurring and it's no surprise what will be happening.

[PerfectionDtail]

Old Lavey,
Even though there is so much development, until the water situation is restored, new construction is "desert only" or some fake turf for front landscaping.

[truksnboats]

rumor has it that Parsons has a team of guys trying to find a way of pulling more water from Mead for the use of us here in so cal, but its just a rumor ...

[Seadog]

True fact: of all the water on earth, 97% is in the oceans and is not available without major treatment. 2% is frozen at the north and south poles. We have been using the remaining 1% over and over again.
As far as reuse goes, all waste water is released to nature at some point, to be used downstream for numerous purposes. Many people think that they can drink out of mountain streams and be safe. They forget about that mountain goat peeing in the stream at teh top.

[Outnumbered]

Originally posted by PerfectionDtail
Old Lavey,
Even though there is so much development, until the water situation is restored, new construction is "desert only" or some fake turf for front landscaping.
This is true but think of all the water being used by a family of 4 for everyday use. Flushing toilets, taking showers, and running the washing machine and dishwasher several times a day.
I'm not an anti-development type. I just think its a foolish and hypocritical move to allow the building to progress so rapidly while telling current home-owners to conserve. All the while without the water to support population growth AND recreation on the Colorado.
OL

[burtandnancy]

Seadog, CC322, are both correct. All the water on Earth, fresh, seawater and frozen has been here for +/- 13 million years. Of the prox 2% called 'fresh', how many sewage cycles do you think it has gone thru? Its the degree of clean up were all concerned with. And the thought that all the Vegas treated sewage goes into Lake Mead has bugged me for years.
Speaking of Lake Mead, just got back this AM. Had a beautiful day of boating on Thursday, but got blown out on Saturday. Watched a lot of people attempt launchings at Hemminway, that was fun. Met someone who had come from Callville who won't drive the dirt road, try Lake Mead Marina and Hemminway, went home with all his beer and ice. Many of the ramps being worked on by contractors so that when the water comes up in 2007 or 2008, the ramps will be in good shape. Also the new bridge over the river towards Temple Bar will(should) be open in 2007...