The bathtub rings around Lake Powell at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area are getting wider and wider, and that's a problem for boaters. NRA officials on Thursday shut down the west half of the Antelope Point launch ramp due to low water levels.
Barricades and cones were placed on the ramp indicating the closed area, the NRA announced. Boaters can continue to launch vessels on the east side of the ramp, but they should still be aware that while the east side of the ramp is open, launching at these water levels is not safe for all sizes of boats.
"Launching is at your own risk," said Cynthia Sequannam, the NRA's information officer. "Should the lake level drop five more feet to an approximate lake elevation of 3,588 feet above sea level, Antelope Point Launch Ramp will close to all launching with boat trailers."
According to the Glen Canyon Institute, as of Wednesday both Lake Powell and Lake Mead down river at Lake Mead National Recreation Area were under half-full, at 46 percent and 42 percent of capacity, respectively. Upper Colorado Basin snow pack, meanwhile, was at 79 percent of the February 18 average.
Comments
Trailadvocate, if you are just some mere white boy, then you can not sit there and rail against Mexicans by pretending that you have more of a right to live in the region, than them. 9 times out of 10 their ancestors were in the southwestern region long before your ancestors. Get a grip. You sound really out of touch.
Zebulon, lawns, golf courses, I think golf courses in most of California are covered under ag water. Your point is good one though. On the second issue, water rights in California, there is a landmark book on the subject, really a god read, titled "The Great Thrist, Californians and Water: A history" by Norris Hundley Jr. Mr. Hundley is a Professor Emeritius of American History at UCLA. It was extremely educational for me and changed my perceptions of the issue here in California. The book "gives the reader a rich history buttressed with admirable objectivity. Above all, he has taken a subject of complexity and giver it clarity." American Historical Review. Much detail on the first water rights, privitization of said, etc.
Where is that magical 'invisible hand' of the marketplace correcting this? [note that I did not make the 'trickle-down' joke that was a lob over the net]
In government handcuffs.
Rick, it's the clumsy "invisible hand" of the marketplace that is CAUSING this. How can we expect the marketplace to correct it?
Quite the imagination Lee.
It would be interesting to hear what solutions would be proposed by those sparing about the role of government vs. the marketplace in this issue.
Simple JT - This is an issue where government has a role. They just are totally screwing it up. Market forces would work over time but by limiting development in the nearer term by pricing water appropriately rather than subsidizing pipelines we can avoid alot of pain.