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VGNonly

(8,484 posts)
Sat Mar 21, 2026, 11:55 AM Yesterday

Lake Powell

is down by 31 feet from same period last year. (3560.15 to 3529.17) Snowpack in Arizona and New Mexico is virtually nonexistent. Colorado is very significantly down. Some pack in Wyoming feeding into the Green River basin.

16 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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NameAlreadyTaken

(2,299 posts)
2. Mammoth Mountain in California has 122 inches of snow
Sat Mar 21, 2026, 11:59 AM
Yesterday

in the 2022-2023 season they received 800 inches of snow.

hatrack

(64,815 posts)
3. It's currently below 24% of capacity, a little less than 5.8 million acre-feet.
Sat Mar 21, 2026, 12:03 PM
Yesterday

And the words of the prophets were written on Glen Canyon walls, and they said, "Oh, shit!"

https://lakepowell.water-data.com/

marble falls

(71,833 posts)
5. Worked at Wauweap Marina and Resort in the 70s when it was managed by Del Webb corporation. ...
Sat Mar 21, 2026, 12:12 PM
Yesterday

... it was wonderful. They filmed parts of the original Planet of the Apes there a couple of years before. The restaurant was large with a 180 degree window wall over the "bay". It looked like a diorama from a museum, and it seemed like a dinosaur would come into view any second.



There used to be water all around these rocks. The big one was the secret museum from the movie.

marble falls

(71,833 posts)
8. Crazy sad. What happens when California and Arizona puts agriculture where it absolutely does not belong. ...
Sat Mar 21, 2026, 12:25 PM
Yesterday

... one reason I left the Valley of the Sun: too much population for water resources and only three roads out of the area. I did not want to be there fighting for drinking water.

CanonRay

(16,154 posts)
9. Wow, I had no idea
Sat Mar 21, 2026, 12:39 PM
Yesterday

I rented a houseboat there a couple of times and had a ton of fun. Just a beautiful place, great spring getaway.

VGNonly

(8,484 posts)
11. That would leave Stateline Auxiliary Ramp
Sat Mar 21, 2026, 07:55 PM
17 hrs ago

as the only viable dockage. If that level drops another 9-10', all access to Lake Powell is closed.

VGNonly

(8,484 posts)
6. When it falls to 3490',
Sat Mar 21, 2026, 12:12 PM
Yesterday

only 30' more, power production shuts off. At 3370' it becomes dead pool, no water flowing.

hunter

(40,662 posts)
12. It's not a significant power source lately...
Sat Mar 21, 2026, 09:07 PM
16 hrs ago

... about 15% of the two reactors at Diablo Canyon, for example.

VGNonly

(8,484 posts)
14. True, 3 of the 8 turbines are turned off.
Sat Mar 21, 2026, 10:09 PM
15 hrs ago

In addition of low water levels, they need to reduce hydro to lessen the risk of cavitation. Cavitation is excessive air in the water mains, leading to the chance of extreme damage to the pipes.

roamer65

(37,939 posts)
13. Definitely NO water diversion from the Great Lakes region.
Sat Mar 21, 2026, 09:11 PM
16 hrs ago

It’s bad enough we have water bottlers here. We need to ban them from drawing from our aquifer.

hunter

(40,662 posts)
16. Desalinated water would cost less than any diversion...
Sun Mar 22, 2026, 12:40 AM
13 hrs ago

... from the Great Lakes to the Colorado river basin.

Diversions from the Snake and Columbia river basins are a greater threat.

It seems likely that most agriculture will become unfeasible in arid upper elevations because inexpensive water for irrigation won't be available. Urban users who expect flush toilets, showers, dishwashers and washing machines will take precedence.


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