Quotes
“With good land-use management, water scarcity can even be a useful tool for containing the heedless sprawl of human habitation. Unfortunately, ...”
― David Owen, Where the Water Goes: Life and Death Along the Colorado River
“The American West quietly became the first and most durable example of the modern welfare state.”
― Marc Reisner, Cadillac Desert: The American West and Its Disappearing Water
The Great Salt Lake
The lake is becoming saltier and uninhabitable to native flies and brine shrimp. Soon the lake will be unable to sustain the more than 10 million migratory birds and wildlife that frequent it. Already, the lake has lost 73% of its water and 60% of its surface area, as trillions of gallons of water are diverted away from it to supply farms and homes. Studies suggest that only about 9% of the lake’s decline is due to evaporation and reduced runoff can be blamed on climate change.
The overuse of water is the main threat to the largest saltwater lake in the western hemisphere, and huge water diversions to irrigate vast operations to grow alfalfa and hay are no longer sustainable in Utah. “We really need to increase the speed of our response, and also increase our ambition for how much water we restore to the lake,” said Ben Abbott, an ecologist at Brigham Young University.
Lake Powell
Last summer at its low point, Lake Powell's water level was only 32 feet above the levels required to operate Glen Canyon's hydro power intakes which resulted in the dam's power output to be 50% of what is considered adequate to supply seven states.with electricity. The current plan is to keep Powell operating by taking water from smaller reservoirs upstream and cutting water usage throughout the Colorado Basin---and pray for a decent snow pack.
“With good land-use management, water scarcity can even be a useful tool for containing the heedless sprawl of human habitation. Unfortunately, ...”
― David Owen, Where the Water Goes: Life and Death Along the Colorado River
“The American West quietly became the first and most durable example of the modern welfare state.”
― Marc Reisner, Cadillac Desert: The American West and Its Disappearing Water
The Great Salt Lake
The lake is becoming saltier and uninhabitable to native flies and brine shrimp. Soon the lake will be unable to sustain the more than 10 million migratory birds and wildlife that frequent it. Already, the lake has lost 73% of its water and 60% of its surface area, as trillions of gallons of water are diverted away from it to supply farms and homes. Studies suggest that only about 9% of the lake’s decline is due to evaporation and reduced runoff can be blamed on climate change.
The overuse of water is the main threat to the largest saltwater lake in the western hemisphere, and huge water diversions to irrigate vast operations to grow alfalfa and hay are no longer sustainable in Utah. “We really need to increase the speed of our response, and also increase our ambition for how much water we restore to the lake,” said Ben Abbott, an ecologist at Brigham Young University.
Lake Powell
Last summer at its low point, Lake Powell's water level was only 32 feet above the levels required to operate Glen Canyon's hydro power intakes which resulted in the dam's power output to be 50% of what is considered adequate to supply seven states.with electricity. The current plan is to keep Powell operating by taking water from smaller reservoirs upstream and cutting water usage throughout the Colorado Basin---and pray for a decent snow pack.
Drought
Will we recognize the mountain west when the lakes and rivers are dried up? Will we be able to live without electricity? We must learn how to limit our water use on crops that need large amounts of water and lawns that need water two or three times a week. No additional golf courses.
Will we recognize the mountain west when the lakes and rivers are dried up? Will we be able to live without electricity? We must learn how to limit our water use on crops that need large amounts of water and lawns that need water two or three times a week. No additional golf courses.