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.
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Now, boys! Calm down and remember history. What is likely to happen is this: People will start moving to where the water is. Back to New York they will go, and yes, the global cooling that is now New England. The Great Lakes are brimming with fresh water--all of it freshly chilled with ice. The Southwest was settled on a dream. And just for the record, since someone mentioned it, the Spanish-speaking population in all of it, circa 1846, was about 9,000 people. Twenty years earlier, why did Mexico invite Stephen Austin, et al., to settle what was then the "northern" provinces? They needed the bodies to work the land. Well, you know Americans. They also wanted their civil rights, ultimately wresting the Southwest from Mexico. Now that Mexicans are taking it back, there is even less water to go around.
Everyone will move, and they will have to move. The cost of the alternative remains astronomical. Of course, the climate might change again and the big dams refill. And there is always pumping out the groundwater. The only problem there is that the acquifers will never recharge. Much of it is fossil water. So, relax, pop a beer, sit back, and observe. However, those of you with property in the Southwest might consider selling now. We have lovely starter homes in Seattle priced at $500,000 and above. Just bring enough to pay the taxes. No Prop 13 here! But we do not have to desalinate our water--yet. After all, our snowpack this year is 21 percent of normal!
If I were still teaching, those are the facts I would be mentioning. A smaller population can adjust to change. A large and growing population has fewer choices. The economics are important; government policy also figures in. But how do you adjust for 320 million people in a country that planned itself when the population was a third of that?
No one "stole" it; the world just outgrew itself. Humans have always been "on the move." Now, where can you move to? Where is it any better? No one wanted to listen back in the 1960s, so here we are. Even now, no one wants to see this as a problem of population. If we tinker it better--if we plan it better--if we let the "market" prevail--things will work out. Just get the government off my back. A wonderful sentiment, but totally hopeless, unless you believe in miracles.
The miracle is that it still works for some folks, generally older people with substantial assets. But 80 percent of America is now on the edge--living from paycheck to paycheck. It can't last and we know it. Everyone is just playing for time. And the 20 percent that still has assets is being asked to draw them down even more.
Even if we had listened, there is no guarantee we could have worked things out. But we sure as heck would have had a better chance. Now that the odds are against us, even Vegas is going broke. Caesar's just went into bankruptcy, yes, Caesar's. The Empire is done for sure.
Time to build a pipeline from the great lakes to the southwest/west. :) Move over Keystone.
Ron, thanks for the book recommendation. I'll have to look it up.
This year, they had a fairly decent and wet monsoon season in the southwest. With a warmer pacific, the monsoons may get wetter and moister. This season, months worth of rain fell in hours during certain times during the monsoon season. Granted, they were suffering through a massive drought, so a good monsoon season was needed. I have family in NM, and yes, water is a serious issue, and is discussed reguarly. When I was there this year, I sat and watched a PBS roundtable discussion between the Albuquerque city council, and the Zuni Nation on this very issue. It was quite an interesting discussion, and I do think they are very much thinking of the future in that region.
The problem will always remain population growth. I don't think the southwest can sustain large population growth. Is it an attractive place to live? Hell yes. I love it there. My wife was born and raised there. It's a beautiful place with great weather, and the culture is way better than what is found in other places. I'll take it anyday over what is here in the southeast, which is filled with water, but defunct in intelligence, and a laid back entrepeunerial spirit that you find in the west. The east is highly parochial, and less transient.. Those that move here from the west will have to learn to cope with it. Timothy Leary wrote books on this subject about the "western high". I can see what some crave the west, especially individuals trying to escape the hive mentality. And this is coming from someone that has lived in a few different places of the country. But, water is the big limitation to "growth" in the southwest. If you live in a place like NM, AZ, or SoCal, then you shouldn't have more than one kid. If you want more than that, then move to a wet climate where the resource battles will be less in the future. But, on the same token, greener energy like rooftop solar will be much more sufficient in the southwest, than it ever will be in a place like smoggy, grey and moody NY, where you recieve lots of moisture, but sunshine is a rarer commodity. So pick your poison. In the southwest, they have a real chance to build a solar economy, and have a good supply of "free'er energy". In the northeast, midwest, and southeast, i'd say that's not the case with the high populations they currently have. But, yes, the population is way out of whack on all sides of the country, including Seattle. It's been out of whack since the early 1900s since we started using oil, and creted the phantom growth since the black gold made life much easier than before.
Alfred, that is one great commentary. Not sure how much is tongue-in-cheek, but it expresses much of the problem perfectly.
And, Gary, you did a pretty darn good job yourself.
Thanks to both of you.
Hahah... and then build a wall, Zebby. But, wait till I get back over there.
Gary, I agree that population growth is an issue. Not a secret there. You better watch out you might be called a racist by the open borders crowd. Just strategy, however. No one seems to be saying how massive immigration is a significant part of the problem of limited resources to begin with. Not a coincidence many would think but not say. Gotta be brave to bring up that reality.
Gotta be brave to say racist things and take a chance at people noticing it and properly identifying it?
Zebulon, what is it, the Great Lakes holds 20% of the North American fresh water supply, it will be next on the list I am afraid. Spent 3 weeks last fall traveling around the area, it was pretty special. Thanks for the note Zeb, the book is very educational, I know you will enjoy it.