Lake Powell above Warm Creek Bay
Facts
Start of storage	March 13, 1963
Completion of initial filling	June 22, 1980
Elevation	1,127 (3,700 ft)
Volume (maximum)	33.304 km³ (26.999.814 acre.feet)
Volume (current)	~ 26.5 km³ (21,483,757 acre.feet)
Surface area	1627 km²
Length	299 km (186 miles)
Width	40 km (25 miles)
Shoreline	3,057 km (1,900 miles)
Maximum depth	170 m (560 ft)
Mean depth	40 m (132 ft)

Lake Powell is a man-made reservoir on the Colorado River, straddling the border between Utah and Arizona. It was created by the flooding of Glen Canyon by the controversial Glen Canyon Dam, which also led to the creation of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, a popular summer destination. The reservoir is named for explorer John Wesley Powell, a one-armed American Civil War veteran who explored the river via two wooden boats in 1869. In 1972, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area was established. It is public land managed by the National Park Service, and available to the public for recreational purposes. Lake Powell is arguably the most scenic lake in America, situated in some of Southern Utah's finest red-rock desert country. It is second in size only to Lake Mead downstream. With both lakes storing about 25,000,000 acre-feet of water each when full, the water is a valuable resource for the western U.S. Lake Powell boasts over 1,900 miles of shoreline, more than the entire coast of the western U.S. and has 96 major side canyons. Download high resolution version (1024x730, 98 KB)lake powell from above wahweap marina File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Nothing!HAHAHAHAHA! ... Colorado River in the Grand Canyon from Desert View The Colorado River is a river in the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, approximately 1,450 mi (2,333 km) long, draining a part of the arid regions on the western slope of the Rocky Mountains. ... // History Early history Native Americans have lived in Utah for several thousand years; most archeological evidence dates such habitation about 10,000 to 12,000 years ago. ... State nickname: The Grand Canyon State, The Copper State Other U.S. States Capital Phoenix Largest city Phoenix Governor Janet Napolitano (D) Official languages English Only State Area 295,254 km² (6th)  - Land 294,312 km²  - Water 942 km² (0. ... Glen Canyon Dam Glen Canyon Dam is a dam on the Colorado River at Page, Arizona. ... Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (Glen Canyon NRA) is a recreation and conservation unit of the National Park Service that encompasses the area around Lake Powell in Utah and Arizona, covering 1,254,429 acres (5,076 km²) of mostly desert. ... John Wesley Powell (March 24, 1834 - September 23, 1902) was a American western explorer. ... The American Civil War was fought in North America from 1861 until 1865 between the United States of America – forces coming mostly from the 23 northern states of the Union – and the newly-formed Confederate States of America, which consisted of 11 southern states that had declared their secession. ... 1869 is a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ...

History

Construction on Glen Canyon Dam began with a demolition blast keyed by the push of a button by President Dwight D. Eisenhower at his desk in the Oval Office on October 1st, 1956. The first blast started clearing tunnels for water diversion. On February 11th, 1959, water was diverted through the tunnels so dam construction could begin. Later that year, the bridge was completed, allowing trucks to deliver equipment and materials for the dam, and also for the new town of Page, Arizona. Glen Canyon Dam Glen Canyon Dam is a dam on the Colorado River at Page, Arizona. ... Dwight David Ike Eisenhower, OM, GCB, (October 14, 1890 – March 28, 1969), American soldier and politician, was the 34th President of the United States (1953–1961) and Supreme Commander of the Allied forces in Europe during World War II, with the rank of General of the Army. ... The Oval Office is the official office of the President of the United States, in the West Wing of the White House, built in 1909. ...

Concrete placement started around the clock on June 17th, 1960. The last bucket of concrete was poured on September 13th, 1963. Over 5 million cubic yards of concrete make up Glen Canyon Dam. The Dam is 710 feet high, with the surface elevation of the water at full pool being approximately 3700 feet. Construction of the Dam cost $155 million, and 18 lives were lost in the process. From 1963 to 1966, turbines and generators were installed for hydroelectricity. On September 22nd, 1966, Glen Canyon Dam was dedicated by Ladybird Johnson.

Upon completion of Glen Canyon Dam on September 13th, 1963, the Colorado River began to back up, no longer being diverted through the tunnels. Lake Powell was born. As the lake filled over the years, seismic activity in the area increased as the ground shifted beneath the increasing weight of the water. It took 17 years for the lake to rise to the high water mark, on June 22nd, 1980. However, in the heavy snow year of 1983, the lake crested two meters above the high water mark, just two meters below the top of Glen Canyon Dam. In 1964, Glen Canyon Dam was voted Outstanding Engineering Achievement of the year by the American Society of Civil Engineers.

More recently, however, several years of drought reduced it to less than half its capacity. In 2004, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area had to close four of its six boat launching facilities, as the receding water left them high and dry. Some of the closed facilities remained partially available on a "launch at your own risk" basis. Houseboats that are not frequently moved were stranded by the falling water level. In 2005, the runoff returned to normal. The reservoir rose by 55 feet, and all the facilites and ramps were reopened. A drought is an extended period where water availability falls below the statistical requirements for a region. ... 2004(MMIV) is a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Geology

Lake Powell from space

Glen Canyon was carved by differential erosion from the Colorado River over an estimated 5 million years. The Colorado Plateau, through which the canyon cuts, arose some 11 million years ago. Within that plateau lie layers of rock from over 300 million years ago to the relatively recent volcanic activity. Pennsylvanian and Permian formations can be seen in Cataract Canyon and San Juan Canyon. Moenkopi Formations from 230 million years ago (Triassic Period), along with Chinle Formations are found at Lees Ferry and the Rincon. Both are the result of the ancient inland sea that covered the area. Once the sea drained, windblown sand invaded the area, creating what is known as Wingate Sandstone. The more recent (Jurassic Period) formations include Kayenta Sandstone, which produces the trademark blue-black "desert varnish" that streaks down many walls of the canyons. Above this is Navajo Sandstone, the result of more compressed sand dunes. Many of the arches, including Rainbow Bridge, lie at this transition point. This period also includes light yellow Entrada Formations, and the dark brown, almost purple Carmel Formation. These latter two can be seen on the tops of mesas around Wahweap, and the crown of Castle Rock and Tower Butte. Above these layers lie the Straight Cliffs Sandstone and conglomerate shales that make up the Kaiparowits Plateau and San Rafael Swell to the north of the lake. Download high resolution version (773x1000, 192 KB)Lake Powell, Utah from NASAs Landsat Lake Powell in southern Utah stretches hundreds of miles from Lees Ferry in Arizona to the Orange Cliffs of southern Utah. ... Download high resolution version (773x1000, 192 KB)Lake Powell, Utah from NASAs Landsat Lake Powell in southern Utah stretches hundreds of miles from Lees Ferry in Arizona to the Orange Cliffs of southern Utah. ... The Colorado Plateau, also called the Colorado Plateaus Province, is a physiographic region of the Intermontane Plateaus, roughly centered on the Four Corners region of the southwestern United States. ... The Triassic is a Geologic period that extends from about 248 to 202 million years (My or megayears) before the present. ... The Jurassic period is a major unit of the geologic timescale that extends from about 195 million years BP at the end of the Triassic to 135 million years BP at the beginning of the Cretaceous. ... Categories: Stub ...

The confluences of the Escalante River and San Juan River lie within Lake Powell. The slower flow of the San Juan has produced incredible Goose Necks, where 5 miles of river are contained within 1 mile on a straight line.

Features

Rainbow Bridge

The lake's main body stretches up Glen Canyon, but has also filled many (over 50) side canyons. The lake also stretches up the Escalante River and San Juan River where they merge into the main Colorado River. This provides access to many natural geographic points of interest as well as some remnants of the Anasazi culture. I took this pic of Rainbow Bridge in May 2002 while on vacation at Lake Powell. ... I took this pic of Rainbow Bridge in May 2002 while on vacation at Lake Powell. ... Ancient Pueblo People, or Ancestral Puebloans is the preferred term for the group of peoples often known as Anasazi who are the ancestors of the modern Pueblo peoples. ...

• Rainbow Bridge National Monument
• Defiance House ruin
• Cathedral in the Desert (completely flooded by the filling of the reservoir, but re-exposed in the spring of 2005 as the water level dropped) (photos)
• San Juan goosenecks
• Kaiparowits Plateau
• Hole-in-the-Rock crossing
• the Rincon
• Three-Roof Ruin
• Padre Bay

External link National Park Service, Rainbow Bridge official website Categories: Stub | U.S. National Monuments ... 2005(MMV) is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Padre Bay is part of Lake Powell in southern Utah. ...

Development

Because most of the lake is surrounded by steep sandstone walls, access to the lake is limited to developed marinas:

1. Lees Ferry Subdistrict
2. Page/Wahweap Marina
3. Antelope Point Marina
4. Dangling Rope Marina*
5. Rainbow Bridge National Monument*
6. Escalante Subdistrict*
7. Halls Crossing Marina
8. Bullfrog Marina
9. Hite Marina (Currently closed due to low water levels)

 *Dangling Rope, Rainbow Bridge, and Escalante are accessible only by boat. 

Glen Canyon National Recreation Area draws more than two million visitors annually. Recreational activities include boating, fishing, waterskiing, jet-skiing, and hiking. Prepared campgrounds can be found at each marina, but many visitors choose to rent a houseboat or bring their own camping equipment, find a secluded spot somewhere in the canyons, and make their own camp (there are no restrictions on where visitors can stay). Anyone who camps further than a quarter of a mile from a marina, however, must bring a porta-potty. The burying of human waste in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area is prohibited. Pet waste must also be packed out. Boating is the activity of traveling by boat. ... Fishing is the activity of hunting for fish. ... Recreational skiiers typically use two skis — other techniques abound. ... Some personal watercraft can carry as many as three passengers. ... A Houseboat is a boat which has been designed or modified to be used primarily as a human dwelling. ...

The southwestern end of Lake Powell can be accessed via U.S. Highway 89 and Arizona State Route 98. Use Utah SR-95 and Utah SR-276 to get to the northeastern end of the lake. United States Highway 89 is a north-south United States highway with two branches. ... Utah SR-95 in red Utah SR-95 is a state highway located in west-central San Juan, eastern Garfield, and central Wayne counties, in the southeast of the U.S. state of Utah. ... Utah SR-276 in red Utah SR-276 is a state highway located in southwest-central San Juan, eastern Garfield, and a tiny portion of northeastern Kane counties, in the southeast of the U.S. state of Utah. ...

Controversy

When several dams were proposed for the Colorado River in the 1950s, the Sierra Club opposed the plan, but a compromise was reached when the plan was reduced to the Glen Canyon Dam. In hindsight, environmentalists greatly regret this compromise, and continue to call for the decommissioning of the dam and the draining of Lake Powell. Others, including the local governments in the area, strongly oppose this idea. No state or national office has given any consideration or resources toward planning a decommissioning, partly because, in every year since 1996, the appropriations bill for the Department of the Interior has prohibited any use of federal funds to study decommissioning. According to one group, because of the increasing demand for Colorado River water, it has been predicted that Lake Powell will never be full again. [1] This, however, is just one theory. // Events and trends The 1950s in Western society was marked with a sharp rise in the economy for the first time in almost 30 years and return to the 1920s-type consumer society built on credit and boom-times, as well as the height of the baby-boom from returning... The Sierra Club is an American environmental organization founded on May 28, 1892 in San Francisco, California by the well-known conservationist John Muir, who became its first president. ... Environmentalism is the support or involvement with the environmental movement by environmentalists. ... The United States Department of the Interior (DOI) is a Cabinet department of the United States government that manages and conserves most federally-owned land. ...

Water storage

Though Lake Powell was created as a "water bank" for the desert southwest, which is the fastest growing area in the United States, the only city using water directly from it is Page, Arizona, a town of 8000. Lake Powell is functioning exactly as it was intended to, even in the 6th year of drought in the southwest, providing adequate water supplies for the lower basin states. Lake Powell ensures that Lake Mead downstream will exist, as most of the water in the Colorado River System gets delivered to the lower basin states, California, Nevada, and Arizona. Under the Colorado River Compact of 1922, this water supports 80% of the produce grown in the U.S. Opponents counter that millions of acre-feet (several km³) are lost to evaporation because of the dam, and that Lake Mead (created by the Hoover Dam further down the Colorado river) can better manage the water resources of the river. However, with Lake Mead being a lake at lower elevation with more exposed surface and hotter temperatures, Lake Mead's evaporation rate is around 6% to 7% each year. In contrast, Lake Powell's evaporation rate is only around 2%, since it is a higher elevation lake, and the deep canyons keep the water cooler. Lake Mead from space, November 1985 Lake Mead is the largest man-made lake and reservoir in the United States. ... Hoover Dam Hoover Dam (36°0′56″ N 114°44′16″ W) is a concrete gravity-arch dam in the Black Canyon of the Colorado River, on the border between Arizona and Nevada. ...

Power generation

The power plant at Glen Canyon Dam can generate up to 1,300 megawatts of hydroelectric power. This represents approximately three percent of the power supply in the six states that it serves. Though Lake Powell also serves as a source of water for the coal fired Navajo Generating Station, critics contend that the Colorado River could still supply the necessary water without the reservoir if the intakes were moved upstream several hundred meters. The total amount of power generated by these two facilities provides electrical power for 5,000,000 people in the western United States. Hydroelectric dam diagram The waters of Llyn Stwlan, the upper reservoir of the Ffestiniog Pumped-Storage Scheme in north Wales, can just be glimpsed on the right. ...

As at Hoover Dam pylons of special designs are required to run the powerlines away from the transformer station of the dam. Hoover Dam Hoover Dam (36°0′56″ N 114°44′16″ W) is a concrete gravity-arch dam in the Black Canyon of the Colorado River, on the border between Arizona and Nevada. ...

Other economic effects

Proponents of Lake Powell's current status point to the economic impact of more than two million visitors each year who come for the recreational opportunities. Many sites on the reservoir are easily accessible by boat. Other tourists are attracted by a trout fishery below Glen Canyon Dam. Supporters of decommissioning envision a revised (though smaller) tourist economy based on the restoration of Glen Canyon, supplemented by a major restoration research facility at the site.

Effect on the Grand Canyon

Before the construction of the dam, the Colorado River, as it flowed through the Grand Canyon, was comparatively warm and carried large amounts of sediment. Floods, especially in the spring, deposited the sediment on beaches. The effects of the dam have been the removal of about 95% of the sediment, a drop in the temperature of the water, and an end to the natural flooding. (In 1996 the Bureau of Reclamation released an artificial spring flood in an attempt to counteract the dam's effect on the Grand Canyon.) Grand Cañon at the foot of the Toroweap - looking east, by William Henry Holmes The Grand Canyon is a colorful, steep-sided gorge, carved by the Colorado River, in northern Arizona. ... The United States Bureau of Reclamation (Formerly the United States Reclamation Service) is a division of the U.S. Department of the Interior which oversees water development projects in the western United States. ...

Supporters of maintaining the dam argue that the Grand Canyon now has lush green vegetation along the river corridor, supporting many species of birds and insects, including the endangered California Condor and Southwest Willow Flycatcher. They contend that, before the dam, virtually no vegetation could exist in the canyon, as flood waters continually wiped it out. Environmentalists counter that the changes in the river's flow have altered the ecosystem of the Grand Canyon, endangering many native plant and wildlife species.

Under the federal Grand Canyon Protection Act of 1992, damages to the ecosystem of the Grand Canyon must be mitigated. The federal government has spent more than $200 million toward compliance with this statute. Nevertheless, some species, such as the Colorado pikeminnow and the bonytail chub (both of which are officially listed as endangered) and the Southwest river otter, have been eliminated from the Grand Canyon. Others, such as the humpback chub (also endangered), are in severe decline. In 2004 the Grand Canyon Trust, represented by Earthjustice, filed suit against the federal government over its failure to protect the humpback chub from the effects of the Glen Canyon Dam and other Colorado River dams. The Endangered Species Act (7 U.S.C. 136; 16 U.S.C. 460 et seq. ... Earthjustice is a non-profit public interest law firm that specializes in pro-environmental litigation. ...

References

Graham, W. "Houseboat Heaven: Flush It", Los Angeles Times, June 19, 2005, Sunday Opinion: Commentary section ([2]).

Pappas, J. "Blind Zeal for Draining Lake Powell Twists Facts", Arizona Republic, July 13, 2005, ([3]).

Keys, J.W. III "The Colorado River system: Dams and drought", Salt Lake Tribune, September 10, 2005, ([4]).

Grass, Ray, "Article Paints Inaccurate Picture of Lake Powell", Deseret Morning News, Thursday, August 18, 2005 ([5])

External links

• Utah State government information about Lake Powell
• Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (National Park Service)
• Lake Powell Resorts & Marinas - an authorized concessioner
• Friends of Lake Powell - organization opposing decommissioning the dam
• Living Rivers - organization urging study of decommissioning the dam
• Glen Canyon Institute - organization supporting decommissioning of the dam
• Lake Powell fishing information
• Images of Glen Canyon before it was flooded
• "The Beauty of Glen Canyon, Revealed" - RealAudio narration (Minnesota Public Radio)
• Houseboating - Houseboating 101 (at Lake Powell, on the Wildwind)
• Hiking - Neat Hikes at Lake Powell, Utah