Rivers and Droughts Part I

From: Lance (Water Resources Research)
Date: 06 May 2003
Time: 05:09:14
Remote Name: 66.82.48.1

Comments

The Drought issues are not over yet. And I feel I must discuss the river situation and main delivery system of water to our populated areas. The Colorado River main stem, the North and South Platte, Yampa and Arkansas basins have a good average snow pack, this year. Not exciting or enough to render an end to the drought situation, but good enough to breath a sigh of relief, if water conservation strategies are utilized we will make it through. But it will be a hot summer in the Mid West so things are not jubilant. Cattle Farmers are not going to be totally pleased in Kansas and the NM side is scary and in trouble still. Unfortunately it gets worse on the Rio Grande, Gunnison and San Juan basins which are still well below average and down far now as the snow pack is coming in. 71%, 70% and 56% respectfully. The Upper Colorado River Basin is at 71 percent. The NOAA and data indicate that the preliminary inflow forecast issued by the National Weather Service is calling for 4.2 million acre-feet of unregulated runoff into Lake Powell during the 2003. Lake Powell is way down now. Many in that area say that draining of the Glen Canyon dam “a reckless idea” I’ll tell you it is very scenic lake with all the high buttes which are normally submerged this time of year. That massive artificial basin supplies water to CA, AZ, NV and Mexico. Water levels down 95 feet and it is half full? They are even finding lost Indian art walls, arches and old water falls, in 1973 Lake Powell was down worse, and it appears this will set a record down past that water line. John W. Keys III from the Bureau of Reclamation is worried. Lake Powell is a crucial part of the Colorado river system. The runoff into the lake in April through July time period equates to 55 percent of average. The inflow forecast has been reduced again for the third time. The April final forecast was an inflow of 66 percent. Due to dryness and the parched areas the water is soaking in and not running into the reservoir. The warm windy weather is also hurting the mountain snow pack. Warm and windy conditions estimations and create losses from the snow pack, and of conservation organization American Rivers http://www.amrivers.org/ course evaporation losses from the ground and dry soil. They are the ones who do the “Annual ranking of the 10 most endangered rivers” in the nation. Usually they are really into the pollution aspect but now they are more concerned with water supply. The Klamath River in the Pacific Northwest is in trouble over severe water shortages. That is scary for Portland area. Grand Junction has been in dire straights for a while, we were worried back in Fall; http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/newsfd/auto/feed/news/2003/04/30/1051708252.00303.6924.3138.html Denver has some wild water restrictions and we do not see an easing on them. This very much effects car washing and non-essential water usage, http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36~23447~1330791,00.html ---- http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36~53~1361257,00.html Also concerned are agricultural areas and rural areas of CO farming communities; http://www.headwatersnews.org/stories/redirect.php?id=7910 ------ http://www.headwatersnews.org/stories/redirect.php?id=8081 ------ http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36~61~1333102,00.html Irrigators are equally worried http://www.headwatersnews.org/stories/redirect.php?id=7914 ------ The Colorado Senate approved a House-amended bill to allocate $500,000 to study the feasibility of the "Big Straw" project. We see this a awe are awake call to order; http://www.headwatersnews.org/stories/redirect.php?id=8323 ------- The issue really is increased populations and lowest levels of ground water and river water in 100 years, officials and developers in Colorado are coming up with ideas to divert water too. One proposal is a 200-mile-long pipeline that would pump 400,000 acre-feet of Colorado River water away from the Utah border, up 4,500 feet and over the Rocky Mountains, and down to the parched communities in the eastern half of the state, at a cost of at least $5 billion. Which would work but the time to build it would take years. ------ http://www.gristmagazine.com/maindish/zaffos042803.asp?source=daily but right now anything is better than nothing. So float some bonds and get going already? --------- The U.S. Interior Department identified areas around the country that are likely to face conflicts over water shortages in the next 25 years. Not surprisingly were the areas we have been taking about for three years, namely Los Angeles, Denver, and Phoenix, Las Vegas. And added to this list are some new players too: the Gulf Coast of Texas, North Dakota's Red River Valley, and Western cities from Bend, Oregon to Albuquerque, N.M. -------- What can we do? For one LA and PHX and San Diego can use a Tampa Bay scenario; desalination. Talk has been instituted and discussed by the Interior Department on conservation and creative problem-solving rather than more dam-building. Although no doubt water retention basins, underground natural and artificial retention basins will be needed and strategic placement of dams. However, this costs money and it takes time. The Bureau of Reclamation has neither, the issues are real world and right now. They have been fighting the lawsuits and environmentalists and people’s attitudes on water usage. There are significant budget issues to boot. This is an interesting article too ------ http://www.gristmagazine.com/forward.pl?forward_id=1080 -------- Water 2025 Plan is posted on the DOI Website: http://www.doi.gov/water2025/ Colorful website yes? We are most worried about Albuquerque area and all of NM for that matter. No wonder the Navajo left 1000 years ago? If they were dealing with this there would have been no water for their cliff dwellings. The Rio Grande is one of the nation's most drained rivers due to thirty Albuquerque. We have discussed this and feel that our WashGuys Artificial Weather Simulator project is the key, make rain, praying is taking too long. http://www.headwatersnews.org/stories/redirect.php?id=8045 ---------- New Mexico, Nevada and Arizona are drafting statewide water plans. We have previously discussed the AZ governors plan here is NM fast track ----- http://www.santafenewmexican.com/main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=20&ArticleID=25272 --------- http://www.headwatersnews.org/stories/redirect.php?id=7945 ------- http://www.headwatersnews.org/stories/redirect.php?id=8089 ------- Now there are fights brewing with TX and NM just like KS and CO, ------- http://www.headwatersnews.org/stories/redirect.php?id=8272 --------- And the minnow thing we discussed previously too; http://www.headwatersnews.org/stories/redirect.php?id=8315 ------ Now NM is saying do not eat the fish, low water levels mean higher concentrations of contaminents, Arsenic for one due to the mining and natural minerals in the mountains. ---------- http://durangoherald.com/asp-bin/article_generation.asp?article_type=news&article_path=/news/news030327_9.htm -------- Sounds like CA everyone blaming everyone an d lawsuits up the butt and no progress and the water keeps going down? De-salination, Tampa is right, it is the best answer for those with coastlines. -------- http://www.headwatersnews.org/stories/redirect.php?id=7969 ----- This came from the Sierra Clubs water resources list serve: WAPA is also doing some interesting things, but are they on the right track? The Basin Fund is Western Area Power Administrations' (WAPA) contribution to the Recovery Program that is funded by a percentage of the power revenues. Due to the continuing drought, WAPA has not been able to meet its contracted production obligations and has been buying power on the open market. WAPA expects the Basin Fund to be depleted by this time next year. WAPA may have to consider a power rate increase or its customers may have to ask Congress for an additional appropriation to support the Recovery Program. ---------- - Utah Lake, the state's largest freshwater lake, is dying from salinity and phosphorous, and state officials are likely to impose limits on farm runoff and every nearby municipality's sewage-treatment system. ------ http://www.headwatersnews.org/stories/redirect.php?id=8147 . This is the same thing happening in Central Valley CA with the farmers there and depleted soil, very common and happens all over the world. --------- Back to Lake Powell issues; in the West they will not stop and conserve water and Mexico is also in drought. Four years worth. ----- http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A42468-2003Apr26.html ------ Our franchisee in NV picked up a similar article in today’s Las Vegas Sun -------- Another problem is all the old dams around the country http://www.headwatersnews.org/stories/redirect.php?id=7916 ----------- Los Angeles water board may reject a negotiated plan to share the state's allotment of Colorado River water, a deal that was to resolve California's long-standing overuse. The problem being 16 million people who do not save water ------- http://www.headwatersnews.org/stories/redirect.php?id=8411 --------- Still fighting over Global warming in CA? This time over carbon dioxide emissions from Central Valley Farmers? -------- http://www.enn.com/news/2003-04-16/s_3850.asp -------- Good move by Bush’s Administration in Missoula MT to appease the Environmentalists, the Milltown Dam near Missoula goes http://www.headwatersnews.org/stories/redirect.php?id=8146 ------- http://www.headwatersnews.org/stories/redirect.php?id=8162 ------ Stay up on the Drought Situation via The WashGuys Team. http://www.carwashguys.com

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