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I routinely drove across the Hoover Dam in the late 1990's and marveled at the water crashing over the spillways. The rings were present even then, albeit not v
by johnohara 4y ago
I routinely drove across the Hoover Dam in the late 1990's and marveled at the water crashing over the spillways. The rings were present even then, albeit not very wide.
To manage the water level, a release was performed for the first time in the dam's history and it was spectacular. That was only 20+ years ago.
It is my understanding that the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation is having a very difficult time managing the water levels of Mead, Powell, Glen Canyon, and the upper Colorado. Not only due to drought but to the ever-increasing demand being placed on the system from development, agriculture, and inadequate conservation.
The potential inability to produce hydroelectric power is yet another wake-up call that things are changing fast.
- 8ytecoder 4y agoBad policies combined with unchecked growth and inefficient water use is my understanding (John Oliver had a good segment on it). When farmers feel the need to grow alfalfa just to make sure they'll keep their share of water rights - in a drought-prone area - that's effed up. What we should have been doing is efficient drip irrigation and conservation efforts, instead it's the polar opposite that's going on.
- WalterBright 4y agoConservation and efficient water use will happen naturally if the price of water is increased.
- rektide 4y agoFarmers often have very very old contracts with no lifetime. Currently there is no recourse, no way to either start charging them for water or to increase thier rates (as applicable). Hence the example, growing extremely water inefficient crops like alfalfa.
- WalterBright 4y agoThat can be fixed through Eminent Domain.
- jgust 4y agoAnything is possible. Not everything is politically palatable.
- m348e912 4y agoWell stated! The drought has intensely exacerbated what is essentially a water mismanagement problem. Even without historic dry conditions, the Colorado river basin system was on its way to losing water anyway without a major reduction in consumption. Granted it would have taken much longer to get to where they are now.
- landemva 4y ago> ever-increasing demand being placed on the system from development Glad to see recognition that people and industry could help by reducing water usage. Huge consumers such as Denver Water talk about conservation yet new residential and commercial developments still seem to be built as if water is unlimited.
- jcampbell1 4y agoDenver is on the other side of the continental divide.
- landemva 4y agoThe collection systems are in the mountains. Denver Water owns reservoirs west of the divide. https://www.denverwater.org/your-water/water-supply-and-planning/collection-system https://www.denverwater.org/your-water/water-supply-and-plan... Careful study of a park service map for RMNP will show a tunnel. It is a water tunnel serving northern Colorado on east of divide. Fascinating construction history. https://www.northernwater.org/what-we-do/deliver-water/colorado-big-thompson-project/adams-tunnel https://www.northernwater.org/what-we-do/deliver-water/color...
- LargoLasskhyfv 4y agoAlso relevant: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fryingpan%E2%80%93Arkansas_Project https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fryingpan%E2%80%93Arkansas_Pro... and even earlier, from 1907: Kansas v. Colorado, 206 U.S. 46 (1907): https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/206/46/ https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/206/46/ edit: and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colorado%E2%80%93Big_Thompson_Project https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colorado%E2%80%93Big_Thompson_...
- WalterBright 4y ago> water is unlimited It's supply & demand. The solution is to raise the price of water to reduce demand.