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Lake Powell: Deep Blue : There's plenty of water to go around at Lake Powell

Does Mr. Grass work for the DesNews or the Utah Tourism Council? Can't really tell from the content of this article.

I suppose it's good that people have come to understand that it's not the current level of the reservoir that's unusual - it was the fact that it filled completely that was a once in a century occurrence. It's entirely possible none of us will see it much more full than it is now in our lifetimes - welcome to the desert!

The headline, however, is misleading. There are a lot of people with designs on LP water, from St. George to Las Vegas to Phoenix to Los Angeles. If even half of them get their way, there isn't anywhere close to enough water to go around.

Have you ever been to LP? It is an incredible place that brings families together for some true rest and relaxation.

Water issues have arisen in the west since the first diversion was built to redirect water for agriculture. Lake powell provides clean power, recreation, water resources, economic opportuniites, access to incredible places and many other things to millions of visitors.

If LP will ever fill again is out of our hands, only the weather patterns will determine if and when it will be full. Even though LP is 95 feet lower than it was 10 years ago, changes little. LP is a wonderful public resource that makes life better for millions of visitors and residents of the southwest.

If you've been to LP, you know this is true. If you haven't, give it a try. Nothing like it on earth!

Yes, of course I've been to the Glen Canyon Reservoir. I tend to stay away in the summer months, when it's too crowded - sort of like trying to vacation in downtown Los Angeles, but with worse drivers.

Sometimes it brings people together for 'true rest and relaxation', but not always. If you can hear a motorboat or a jetski, you aren't truly resting or recreating. At best, you're experiencing a mildly enjoyable diversion. Which I understand - modern society fuels the need for diversion.

I'd be happy if the lake level dropped another 20 or 30 feet - there'd still be plenty of water for the gasoline-powered industrial tourists, and more dry, quiet canyons upstream for those who prefer quiet, beauty and solitude.

Drain it.

You obviously don't look for peace and quiet when you've been to LP. If you really were looking for quiet, you only need to go 20 minutes away from the launch ramp and you can find serenity. If you truly like to hike the dry land, you'll have 99% of it to yourself.

My experience hiking the canyons shows if you're looking for canyons to hike and desert solitary, your in the minority and most visitors are happy to give you all the space you want. The lake makes it easier for EVERYONE to access many canyons.

The problem with the "Drainer" mindset is they do not consider that the lake provides far more than it consumes. Yes there are desert canyons and treasures under the blue water, but so much more of the area is accessible with the lake that would be lost if it were drained. Besides, how do you replace the clean electricity produced? More coal fired-sulpher spewing powerplants? Nuclear Power? Hydo-power is not perfect, but is less unattractive than some of the other options for an increasing population in the southwest.

I am realistic enough to belive that the resource is to be used wisely. Hydro-power has costs and trade-offs, but what does not?

Regardless, the Bureau of Recliamation has too much invested to allow the renewable-resource to drain away unused.

The great thing about LP is too each their own... You can find what you're looking for and so can I.

PowellLover, I couldn't agree more, nothing like it on earth!
Canyon Lover, there are plenty of beautiful, dry, hot, lakeless places in the west that you can go hiking...why drain a lake that creates such a wonderful environment for us humans? and for the treehuggers, without the lake what would all the little fishies do? I bet most people who have actually been there (i.e. not just show up and complain about everything, but actually have been there and taken advantage of the lake) can't count the wonderful memories they have had in Lake Powell. Let's hope the waters rise...go Powell!

I'm always shocked that people want to drain Lake Powell. These people seem so unbelievable SELFISH.


Utah is amazing! I love hike canyons and seeing its vast diversity. There are thousands upon thousands of desolate, unique and beautiful canyons & places to explore.

That someone thinks they need to drain such an amazingly beautiful place as Lake Powell so that they can rob the many visitors of its beauty is so increadibly selfish.

Someone who soley hikes, is somehow better than someone who boats?!

I've hiked my whole life all over the state and I've still not seen it all. And I'm positive that's true for any hiker/canyoneer.

Lake Powell has anabled millions of people to see things they might never enjoy without the lure of Lake Powell and its many features. I too boat on Lake Powell, because its another incredible beauty of this world and there are endless places to go to escape civiliztion and enjoy unbelievable serenity.

Whether eveyone likes it or not, this world is for ALL of us to enjoy.

I to like my solitude and its tough to share sometimes, but if we all respect the land and others, we'll there's plenty of places to enjoy for all types.

Besides, I'd hate to see Lake Powell empty. It wouldn't be as appealing as it is now. Plus so, many people would never get the chance to see what an incredible place it is and appreciate nature. Whether it has water or its dry, it's nature.

Let's just take care of it.

Canyon lover just wants another canyon to walk his dog up to take a leak! He wouldn't even know where the Colorado River was if it wasn't for Glen Canyon Dam! Millions visit there today whereas virtually no one went there before!
Adjustable Spanner: You may want to trade that canoe in for a real boat....can imagine how tiring it must be to just venture outside the bouy field let alone see the other 150 miles of the lake!

Reality check:

"Wants to walk his dog"? I've never had a dog.

"Wouldn't even know where the Colorado River is"? I was there, and saw with my own eyes, the very first dynamite blasts that officially kicked off the Glen Canyon Dam construction project.

Wants to "rob the many visitors of its beauty"? Thinks that "Someone who solely hikes, is somehow better than someone who boats"? Do you have any idea how many people boat the free-running sections of the Colorado each year? How many years--no, decades--people wait to get a permit to boat the Grand? How much money outfitters make taking people down the Green and Colorado? Why would you rob those boaters of enjoying the beauty of a free running river and its extensive canyon systems by sinking it all underwater?

"There are plenty of beautiful, dry, hot, lakeless places in the west that you can go hiking"? Even if I never hiked another step in my life, I would still say drain it. There are much more efficient ways to impound or divert the water without evaporating a million acre-feet of it every year. Major Powell was the first to recognize this, and must have spun in his grave the day they named Reservoir Powell after him.

The electricity that comes from impounding the West's greatest river and sinking hundreds of miles of pristine canyons is "clean"? No comment necessary.

"The lake makes it easier for everyone to access many canyons?" Wow, good point. Come to think of it, let's build a tram to the top of the Grand Teton. Lets kill all the bears in Yellowstone so I don't have to deal with the food storage restrictions. Lets cut down the trees in Sequoia so everyone can see the forest.

And I'm the selfish one?