lake powell
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Credit: Ilse Orsel/Unsplash
Damaging discovery at Lake Powell's dam may affect Western water distribution
As water levels at Lake Powell plummet to alarming lows, the Glen Canyon Dam faces significant infrastructure challenges, prompting urgent calls from conservation groups for innovative water management strategies.
In short:
- Damage to the "river outlet works" at Glen Canyon Dam, which are crucial for water flow when levels are low, was recently uncovered.
- This discovery could hinder the regular use of these outlet tubes, potentially affecting water delivery to the Colorado River.
- Concerns are growing over the potential for invasive fish species to threaten native fish populations due to the compromised water flow.
Key quote:
"I think it's really important for people to recognize how much of a threat this is to our water delivery system."
— Eric Balken, executive director of the Glen Canyon Institute
Why this matters:
Lake Powell serves as a vital source of electricity through the Glen Canyon Dam, providing power to millions of homes and businesses. However, dwindling water levels are diminishing the dam's capacity to generate electricity, potentially leading to energy shortages and increased reliance on alternative, often less sustainable, sources.
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Newsletter
Photo by John Gibbons on Unsplash
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Image by PublicDomainImages from Pixabay
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The Federal Bureau of Reclamation announces reduced water cuts for Colorado River states
This year’s ‘above-average precipitation’ will allow for less extensive water cuts for Arizona, Nevada and Mexico next year, but negotiations continue over big reductions in the future.
‘A portion of paradise’: How the drought is bringing a lost US canyon back to life
Record dryness has restored an ecosystem under Lake Powell, the country’s second-largest reservoir. Is it time to see it as ‘a national park rather than a storage tank’?
At Lake Powell, record low water levels reveal an 'amazing silver lining'
When the reservoir dropped to its lowest level since it was filled, an expedition through once-submerged branches of Glen Canyon found both warning signs and beauty that had been underwater for more than half a century.
Jay Huang/Flickr/Commercial use & mods allowedhttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/
At Lake Powell, record low water levels reveal an 'amazing silver lining'
When the reservoir dropped to its lowest level since it was filled, an expedition through once-submerged branches of Glen Canyon found both warning signs and beauty that had been underwater for more than half a century.
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