'The Bureau of Reclamation is Draining Lake Powell'
As part of Salt Lake City’s Water Week, Dr. Richard Ingebretsen, founder of the Glen Canyon Institute, spoke at the SLC Main Library Auditorium. His message was dire, “Demand (for water) is now greater than supply.”
In order to meet that demand, the Bureau of Reclamation is “draining Lake Powell,” asserted Dr. Ingebretsen. He followed that statement by saying that “they should do it all at once and get it over with.”
Lake Powell was formed by the Glen Canyon Dam in 1963. Termed as “America’s greatest environmental mistake” by Dr. Ingebretsen, the lake covered more than 3000 archaeological sites and untold canyons, waterfalls, and arches. Originally formed to protect the water rights of the states in the Northern Basin, Lake Powell’s size and bed composition make it less than ideal for storing water. It loses water through seepage and evaporation.
Very few people in the north use the water from the Colorado River or from Lake Powell except for recreationally. If the water were moved into Lake Mead, a lake with less seepage and less evaporation, it would help alleviate the coming water crisis, reveal beautiful canyons and important archaeological sites, and allow the original ecosystem to begin to repair itself.
“If you protect the rivers, animals and plants, you will have a sustainable water delivery system,” said Dr. Ingebretsen during the talk. He also urged the audience to remember that “little things will go a long way” when they think about conservation efforts.
Water Week continues through May 8, 2011 with activities every day.
This article was originally published at examiner.com
In order to meet that demand, the Bureau of Reclamation is “draining Lake Powell,” asserted Dr. Ingebretsen. He followed that statement by saying that “they should do it all at once and get it over with.”
Lake Powell was formed by the Glen Canyon Dam in 1963. Termed as “America’s greatest environmental mistake” by Dr. Ingebretsen, the lake covered more than 3000 archaeological sites and untold canyons, waterfalls, and arches. Originally formed to protect the water rights of the states in the Northern Basin, Lake Powell’s size and bed composition make it less than ideal for storing water. It loses water through seepage and evaporation.
Very few people in the north use the water from the Colorado River or from Lake Powell except for recreationally. If the water were moved into Lake Mead, a lake with less seepage and less evaporation, it would help alleviate the coming water crisis, reveal beautiful canyons and important archaeological sites, and allow the original ecosystem to begin to repair itself.
“If you protect the rivers, animals and plants, you will have a sustainable water delivery system,” said Dr. Ingebretsen during the talk. He also urged the audience to remember that “little things will go a long way” when they think about conservation efforts.
Water Week continues through May 8, 2011 with activities every day.
This article was originally published at examiner.com