Lake Mead

[Busguy2010]

I've been fascinated and frankly terrified by the dropping water level at Lake Mead, the site of the Hoover Dam. It has come to the forefront particularly this year and I'm seeing news about it more often... I've done research and if the water level drops below 895 feet above sea level, it will reach what they call "dead pool", which is when water stops flowing through the dam. This would cause massive loss of electricity, water, and ecology to the southwest that would undoubtedly be felt across the nation and across the world through many facets, namely agriculture. This is almost dooms day type stuff. There are even desperate ideas of tapping the Mississippi River to fill the lake... It's a scary reality. Lake Mead will reach this level at some point in some of our lifetimes and we should prepare for it. I did a quick calculation, and if the lake were to drop at the rate it has since 2020, Lake Mead would reach dead pool by 2028. And that is utterly terrifying to me.

Anybody else research this and share my concerns?

[Greg S]

I've been fascinated and frankly terrified by the dropping water level at Lake Mead, the site of the Hoover Dam. It has come to the forefront particularly this year and I'm seeing news about it more often... I've done research and if the water level drops below 895 feet above sea level, it will reach what they call "dead pool", which is when water stops flowing through the dam. This would cause massive loss of electricity, water, and ecology to the southwest that would undoubtedly be felt across the nation and across the world through many facets, namely agriculture. This is almost dooms day type stuff. There are even desperate ideas of tapping the Mississippi River to fill the lake... It's a scary reality. Lake Mead will reach this level at some point in some of our lifetimes and we should prepare for it. I did a quick calculation, and if the lake were to drop at the rate it has since 2020, Lake Mead would reach dead pool by 2028. And that is utterly terrifying to me.

Anybody else research this and share my concerns?

I am in a similar boat. The crazy thing is, it doesn't seem to be as near of a concern for those that depend on it.

Greg

[Louie]

I've been fascinated and frankly terrified by the dropping water level at Lake Mead, the site of the Hoover Dam. It has come to the forefront particularly this year and I'm seeing news about it more often... I've done research and if the water level drops below 895 feet above sea level, it will reach what they call "dead pool", which is when water stops flowing through the dam. This would cause massive loss of electricity, water, and ecology to the southwest that would undoubtedly be felt across the nation and across the world through many facets, namely agriculture. This is almost dooms day type stuff. There are even desperate ideas of tapping the Mississippi River to fill the lake... It's a scary reality. Lake Mead will reach this level at some point in some of our lifetimes and we should prepare for it. I did a quick calculation, and if the lake were to drop at the rate it has since 2020, Lake Mead would reach dead pool by 2028. And that is utterly terrifying to me.

Anybody else research this and share my concerns?

I am in a similar boat. The crazy thing is, it doesn't seem to be as near of a concern for those that depend on it.

Greg

Sure isnt stopping population growth down there either. This will be very interesting to see how they intend to supply water when it happens.

[Busguy2010]

Sure isnt stopping population growth down there either. This will be very interesting to see how they intend to supply water when it happens.

I know. It's going to be totally devastating. Millions of unprepared people suddenly without water and electricity. And so far there's no legitimate backup plan. That Mississippi aquaduct idea is just totally unfeasible. The only viable solution is the desalination plant idea, and that continually gets shot down.

People need to be moving away from, not flock to the desert. And people out there get defensive when you remind them people shouldn't live in a desert. I know a couple people living in Tucson that used to live here. Last time I talked on the phone, I asked them what they thought about Lake Mead and if they'd consider moving back. I got a dismissive response and they cited the differences in weather. I bit my tongue but I wanted to say "WELL A LITTLE SNOW IS BETTER THAN NO WATER OR ELECTRICITY". And they're nearing retirement age so presumably they envision living out their years there.

I even read a real snobby article suggesting that "you Midwesterners are greedy for not agreeing to build the Mississippi River aquaduct" and they literally said "don't expect help from us". I was like WOW when I read that. So there are some people out there desperate for a solution, but they won't take the best solution of getting out while they can.

[ricko]

I've been fascinated and frankly terrified by the dropping water level at Lake Mead, the site of the Hoover Dam. It has come to the forefront particularly this year and I'm seeing news about it more often... I've done research and if the water level drops below 895 feet above sea level, it will reach what they call "dead pool", which is when water stops flowing through the dam. This would cause massive loss of electricity, water, and ecology to the southwest that would undoubtedly be felt across the nation and across the world through many facets, namely agriculture. This is almost dooms day type stuff. There are even desperate ideas of tapping the Mississippi River to fill the lake... It's a scary reality. Lake Mead will reach this level at some point in some of our lifetimes and we should prepare for it. I did a quick calculation, and if the lake were to drop at the rate it has since 2020, Lake Mead would reach dead pool by 2028. And that is utterly terrifying to me.

Anybody else research this and share my concerns?

This scenario has been a concern of mine for years. Like you pointed out, California's Central Valley supplies much of the country with produce. What's aggravating to me is the stark reality that very few people think ahead (or are even remotely able to connect the dots); most don't care until the problem is staring them in the face---then the (misplaced) blame-game begins. We should have been addressing climate change decades ago, but I guess there was no immediate money to be made. We're beyond the 'canary in a coal mine' stage. It's not just California/Arizona/Nevada. I think you'd have to be pretty daft to consider moving to the Southwest, and don't get me started on the dying oceans.

[Busguy2010]

I think when people really see the writing on the wall, and they're staring that reality in the eye, there will be a massive real estate frenzy to get out and salvage what they can in property value. I think the reality will be people will sell for a huge loss, if anybody will buy at all. And based on the market today, they might not have a place to go. I think it's going to be very ugly and that's leaving out the no electricity, no water, food shortage.

[Greg S]

The power can be figured out between wind farms, solar and a possible return to nuclear power.

The water is far and away the dominate concern in my book.

Greg

[Busguy2010]

The power can be figured out between wind farms, solar and a possible return to nuclear power.

The water is far and away the dominate concern in my book.

Greg

I don't think they're moving fast enough to do anything about it. But yes, I agree. What good does electricity do them if there's no water? If we can't figure out the water problem, what's the use in investing in the electricity problem?

The Rams need to move back to St Louis, The Raiders need to move back to Oakland, the Chargers move to Oklahoma City, and the Cardinals move to Chicago (that last one might actually work because both teams might be looking for new stadiums). I know, a little goofy to bring up football, in this thread, but it does help to put into perspective the billions of dollars at stake. Brand new stadiums built in the last couple years that would be rendered useless without power or water.

[ricko]

I think when people really see the writing on the wall, and they're staring that reality in the eye, there will be a massive real estate frenzy to get out and salvage what they can in property value. I think the reality will be people will sell for a huge loss, if anybody will buy at all. And based on the market today, they might not have a place to go. I think it's going to be very ugly and that's leaving out the no electricity, no water, food shortage.

You've hit on one of the many disastrous ripple effects of climate change down the road, not to mention the possible meteoric inflation in the cost of food, which will, again, be blamed on the wrong people. I had a very wise professor in the 1970's who predicted that there would be a massive wave of hungry masses walking North, and it's not just in the Western Hemisphere. He was absolutely right.

[Busguy2010]

You've hit on one of the many disastrous ripple effects of climate change down the road, not to mention the possible meteoric inflation in the cost of food, which will, again, be blamed on the wrong people. I had a very wise professor in the 1970's who predicted that there would be a massive wave of hungry masses walking North, and it's not just in the Western Hemisphere. He was absolutely right.

Yup, just a few off the top of my head, lettuce, kale, avocados, lemons, oranges, peppers, tomatoes, broccoli, etc. When lake mead reaches deadpool, California won't be able to produce many of these produce items and more, and they will become scarce. If you can find them, they will be expensive, along with any products conaining these items.

[Brad]

Josh (the1wags) and I were talking about this off line the other day. He was saying that Lake Powell and Lake Mead together are too much for the amount of water the Colorado River receives in an average year. Basically the two lakes together have enough surface area that the evaporation is more than the basin receives in an average year. Long story short, they should have only build one dam, not two.

I always like these video posted by Grady, he's great at explaining these things.

[ricko]

Josh (the1wags) and I were talking about this off line the other day. He was saying that Lake Powell and Lake Mead together are too much for the amount of water the Colorado River receives in an average year. Basically the two lakes together have enough surface area that the evaporation is more than the basin receives in an average year. Long story short, they should have only build one dam, not two.

I always like these video posted by Grady, he's great at explaining these things.

Great clip. Thanks for that.

ABC news is reporting that the Governor of Nevada has declared a state of emergency for metro Las Vegas because of contaminated water in the Gallinas River due to the wildfires in New Mexico. Vegas evidently gets its water from this river—-I didn’t know that. I guess they have a 50 day supply of clean water left, then nothing.

[Habits76]

Josh (the1wags) and I were talking about this off line the other day. He was saying that Lake Powell and Lake Mead together are too much for the amount of water the Colorado River receives in an average year. Basically the two lakes together have enough surface area that the evaporation is more than the basin receives in an average year. Long story short, they should have only build one dam, not two.

I always like these video posted by Grady, he's great at explaining these things.

Great clip. Thanks for that.

ABC news is reporting that the Governor of Nevada has declared a state of emergency for metro Las Vegas because of contaminated water in the Gallinas River due to the wildfires in New Mexico. Vegas evidently gets its water from this river—-I didn’t know that. I guess they have a 50 day supply of clean water left, then nothing.

It's a town in New Mexico called Las Vegas that only has a 50 day supply of water. The article I read about it yesterday had a misleading headline (go figure) but at the moment Las Vegas, NV still has water....

[ricko]

Josh (the1wags) and I were talking about this off line the other day. He was saying that Lake Powell and Lake Mead together are too much for the amount of water the Colorado River receives in an average year. Basically the two lakes together have enough surface area that the evaporation is more than the basin receives in an average year. Long story short, they should have only build one dam, not two.

I always like these video posted by Grady, he's great at explaining these things.

Great clip. Thanks for that.

ABC news is reporting that the Governor of Nevada has declared a state of emergency for metro Las Vegas because of contaminated water in the Gallinas River due to the wildfires in New Mexico. Vegas evidently gets its water from this river—-I didn’t know that. I guess they have a 50 day supply of clean water left, then nothing.

It's a town in New Mexico called Las Vegas that only has a 50 day supply of water. The article I read about it yesterday had a misleading headline (go figure) but at the moment Las Vegas, NV still has water....

That makes more sense. The geography nerd in me couldn’t figure that one out.

[Greg S]

Legislation moving forward:

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nat ... 191905002/


Greg

[ita]

Just read this article about Colorado River woes in Arizona. Seems like officials and developers haven't pressed the emergency button on development yet, but there are also different perspectives and data regarding potential water crisis in the SW.

Here's why Arizona says it can keep growing despite historic megadrought

Kirk Siegler
Drive traffic-clogged Interstate 10 through Phoenix's West Valley suburbs and you'd hardly know the Southwest is as dry as it's been in 1,200 years.

Water gulping data centers, large warehouses and distribution centers have sprouted in the barren desert. Housing development after housing development is slated for construction.

A two lane highway is being widened in the former farming town of Buckeye, at the edge of the Phoenix sprawl, to make way for an 800 home "master planned community." A sign advertises new homes coming soon with the offer of joining "the VIP interest list."

City officials proudly promote Buckeye as one of America's fastest growing cities. In 2000, the population was around 6,500. Today it's north of 111,000, according to the city's mayor Eric Orsborn. His city's master plan calls for future growth encompassing a staggering 640 square miles of open land to the south, west and north.