Lodges, Restaurants Will Close For Lake Powell Off-Season (1st Time Ever)

[hatrack]

"For the first time since Lake Powell filled up its major facilities are being shut down for the winter. Plans have been announced to close all of the lake's lodges and restaurants, but not its boating facilities, on November 15th.

Lake Powell has been battered by the drought, and that certainly played a role. But the lake has also taken a hit from international economic forces, and even from terrorism.

Lake Powell's level is plummeting, thanks to the drought. And visitation is dropping fast too. It's partly a regional phenomenon affecting other torurist meccas such as the Grand Canyon -- fewer foreign visitors due to unfavorable exchange rates and a softening of the economy.

The ten-year trend at Lake Powell shows well over three million visitors a year, until a steep decline began four years ago. The trend is even steeper in the off-months, November through March, plummeting well below 200,000 off-season visitors. A spokesman says it's no longer feasible to keep restaurants and lodges open in the off-season at Wahweap and Bullfrog."

EDIT

http://tv.ksl.com/index.php?nid=5&sid=127457

[UL_Approved]

1. Sad environmental events

This drought has gripped the west for about 6 years now and is at a critical level. Lakes are going dry in the Colorado River system and mountain areas are so hard hit that no vegetation has grown for a year or two. One may begin to believe in a higher power now, with this and the hurricanes in Florida....


BTW, I recognize the picture. Do you have a connection to aalib on Sourceforge.net?

[hatrack]

2. Oh, you mean Charles?

If you go to your properties page, you can select an avatar. Darwin's one among hundreds available.

Oh, and welcome to DU! :hi:

[brokensymmetry]

3. Interesting!

Two thoughts occur to me.

First, this is a bad sign for agriculture in the American west - and hence, for the global food supply.

Second, as gasoline goes rapidly higher (assuming Peak Oil is here) the tourist industry may well cease to exist...which is bad for the employment picture...