Western Drought Pushes Powell Down To Lowest Level Since 1970

[hatrack]

"Drought conditions described as being worse than the infamous Dust Bowl of the 1930s have forced Lake Powell to its lowest level in more than 30 years.

At the end of last week, the lake's water level was 117 feet below its fill line or at just 42 percent of capacity. Its surface elevation of 3,383 feet above sea level is the lowest it's been since 1970 when the gigantic reservoir, completed in 1966 (sic. - 1963), was still filling.

EDIT

The designers of Glen Canyon Dam and the reservoir had a "pretty clear idea" that a long drought could hit, he said. They planned for the reservoir to have enough carryover water for a drought. It has been able to fill the needs for the past five years. The lake's present usable capacity amounts to about 10.2 million acre-feet of water.

"Our preliminary calculations show that we can handle upwards of three more years of drought beyond 2004 before the situation becomes critical," Wirth added. What if the drought continues beyond that? Wirth said states that share Colorado River water are collaborating to explore possible solutions. If the drought extends another few years, "things will get tough, and the states recognize that.""

EDIT

http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,595055710,00.html

[phantom power]

1. I don't think people really get it

They say "things will get tough", but they don't really believe it. Three years isn't very long. What if it lasts another 10? Or 20? It's happened before, it will surely happen again.

[hatrack]

2. The tree-ring records bear that out - droughts of 20, 30, or 70 years

Along with soil salinization, most archaeologists now believe that a major factor behind the collapse of the Anasazi civilization was a multi-decade drought.

Gosh, we're in a desert - who could possibly imagine that it could get so gosh-darned DRY?!?!?!?

[Kali]

3. the

predictions I hear are we are in year 5 or 6 (forget) of a 20 year drought. I have 50 years of rain records and the average has dropped a full inch in the last few years. Phoenix and LA better watch it and those of you who like fruits and veggies from CA might want to start canning!

[phantom power]

4. out here in AZ it's officially year-9

I was listening to the radio the other day, and somebody was saying (paraphrase) "we have not made the move to official water-rationing because of its adverse effects on the economy"

Gee. If our reservoirs run dry three years from now, and the water supply immediately plummets, I wonder how *that* will affect the economy...

People are trapped in linear-thinking. They believe that water will gradually increase in price. Nobody gets that it will be a phase-change when demand begins to exceed supply.

[Kali]

5. um

Actually two things to keep in mind. Drought doesn't mean NO rain - there will be some replenishment, and (at least I have my fingers crossed) A twenty (or 30 or whatever) year drought doesn't mean there couldn't be an exceptional rainfall year in there somewhere.

I'm in AZ too - has it been 9 years? God I'm getting old! Forgetting what mud looks like as well.