JFRCalifornia
Keeper of San Juan Secrets
Great work by Drew and yes, I agree it's important to stay solution oriented when confronted with a challenge. I love Lake Powell as much as anybody here, but I agree it doesn't help much to wish things were different than they are. But here we are. So where to start?
Whenever I break down a problem, I think in terms of things that are out of our control, things we can control, and then the most important third leg--looking at the situation differently than you always have, and changing your approach.
For Lake Powell, here's what we can't control:
1. The weather, and related snowpack
2. Water supply and power needs in the West
3. Ongoing population growth
Okay, we can't control these things, so no need to spend much time on them. Although these topics make great books and amusingly apocalyptic blog threads.
Here's what we can influence, but can't really control:
1. Governmental response to improving lake access
2. Our collective water and power demand
It's tempting to ignore these too, but we shouldn't. For these, it's a question of "doing your part" in the form of either focused input to the NPS or BOR when public forums are made available, or if you actually work for those agencies, using your influence from within. And if our efforts don't change things in the short-term, they still can in the long-term through persistent action. For the question of collective water supply and demand, again it's doing your part as individuals...see below.
Here's what we can control as individuals, which in the long run can influence governmental and industry response related to these issues:
1. Water demand. No need for green lawns. Use low flow plumbing. Eat fewer processed foods (which require enormous amounts of water to make). In general, alter your normal household habits and set an example for others.
2. Power supply and demand. Use less power. Shut out the lights. Unplug things you're not using. Install solar on your roof if you can. Things that take the load off the power grid, which in turn figures into long-range power demand projections used by BOR, for example.
3. Have fewer babies.
But of course, these are all nice things to do especially in the big picture, but don't do much in the very short term, which is what we need right now for the purposes of Lake Powell. So let's look at the positive aspects of a lower Lake Powell with uncertain access and a broken Dangling Rope, and then fashion a response around that:
1. A nearly empty central part of the lake
2. Less boat activity at the north end
3. A variety of features within the canyons uncovered and waiting to be seen
4. Fewer casual visitors in general, as they fear the consequences of a lower lake and make other plans
5. No practical way to do commercial Rainbow Bridge tours--so fewer tourboats!
So given those very positive things, how is the best way to take advantage of them if you can't control the weather, cannot force anyone to build ramps, can't be sure of boating access from the more remote roads that reach the lake, and can't boat as far up the San Juan, Escalante or the main stem of the lake as you want?
Here's my thoughts on that. And this is where "thinking differently" comes into play...
1. Rent a boat. I don't own a boat, so this concept seems normal to me, but I understand that if you own a boat you want to use it. But in the short term, renting a boat out of Bullfrog will remain possible for some time. Not ideal, but a short-term solution to get on the lake at Bullfrog and take advantage of no crowds.
2. Launch from Wahweap and bring more gas. Many have suggested this, but there's no better way to get to the middle of the lake and have it to yourself than this way.
3. Focus on walking the side canyons. This is the one that I'm the most excited about. Granted, not everyone can hike, or has the desire or ability to venture far from the lake, but boy, there is some pretty awesome stuff to see in those canyons as the lake as receded. For this kind of trip, it's more about staying in one place (or two), camping and walking rather than boating. Which doesn't take much extra gas.
4. Focus on photography. Again, you don't need to go far to get to some great places, and the best photos are the details, not the panoramas, and especially in the side canyons. Take in the quiet, look for the little things right in front of you, and the rewards are great.
...and from there, use your imagination...the fish are still there...the lake is still big...
These things all may seem obvious, but there's a million ways to enjoy Lake Powell without having to do the same fishing trip to the same places every year, launching from the same spot. The lake is, as it always has been, a dynamic and ever-changing thing. So we as users have to take the same approach and adjust. And when the lake level goes back up, we adjust again.
Simple enough. No graphs required.
Whenever I break down a problem, I think in terms of things that are out of our control, things we can control, and then the most important third leg--looking at the situation differently than you always have, and changing your approach.
For Lake Powell, here's what we can't control:
1. The weather, and related snowpack
2. Water supply and power needs in the West
3. Ongoing population growth
Okay, we can't control these things, so no need to spend much time on them. Although these topics make great books and amusingly apocalyptic blog threads.
Here's what we can influence, but can't really control:
1. Governmental response to improving lake access
2. Our collective water and power demand
It's tempting to ignore these too, but we shouldn't. For these, it's a question of "doing your part" in the form of either focused input to the NPS or BOR when public forums are made available, or if you actually work for those agencies, using your influence from within. And if our efforts don't change things in the short-term, they still can in the long-term through persistent action. For the question of collective water supply and demand, again it's doing your part as individuals...see below.
Here's what we can control as individuals, which in the long run can influence governmental and industry response related to these issues:
1. Water demand. No need for green lawns. Use low flow plumbing. Eat fewer processed foods (which require enormous amounts of water to make). In general, alter your normal household habits and set an example for others.
2. Power supply and demand. Use less power. Shut out the lights. Unplug things you're not using. Install solar on your roof if you can. Things that take the load off the power grid, which in turn figures into long-range power demand projections used by BOR, for example.
3. Have fewer babies.
But of course, these are all nice things to do especially in the big picture, but don't do much in the very short term, which is what we need right now for the purposes of Lake Powell. So let's look at the positive aspects of a lower Lake Powell with uncertain access and a broken Dangling Rope, and then fashion a response around that:
1. A nearly empty central part of the lake
2. Less boat activity at the north end
3. A variety of features within the canyons uncovered and waiting to be seen
4. Fewer casual visitors in general, as they fear the consequences of a lower lake and make other plans
5. No practical way to do commercial Rainbow Bridge tours--so fewer tourboats!
So given those very positive things, how is the best way to take advantage of them if you can't control the weather, cannot force anyone to build ramps, can't be sure of boating access from the more remote roads that reach the lake, and can't boat as far up the San Juan, Escalante or the main stem of the lake as you want?
Here's my thoughts on that. And this is where "thinking differently" comes into play...
1. Rent a boat. I don't own a boat, so this concept seems normal to me, but I understand that if you own a boat you want to use it. But in the short term, renting a boat out of Bullfrog will remain possible for some time. Not ideal, but a short-term solution to get on the lake at Bullfrog and take advantage of no crowds.
2. Launch from Wahweap and bring more gas. Many have suggested this, but there's no better way to get to the middle of the lake and have it to yourself than this way.
3. Focus on walking the side canyons. This is the one that I'm the most excited about. Granted, not everyone can hike, or has the desire or ability to venture far from the lake, but boy, there is some pretty awesome stuff to see in those canyons as the lake as receded. For this kind of trip, it's more about staying in one place (or two), camping and walking rather than boating. Which doesn't take much extra gas.
4. Focus on photography. Again, you don't need to go far to get to some great places, and the best photos are the details, not the panoramas, and especially in the side canyons. Take in the quiet, look for the little things right in front of you, and the rewards are great.
...and from there, use your imagination...the fish are still there...the lake is still big...
These things all may seem obvious, but there's a million ways to enjoy Lake Powell without having to do the same fishing trip to the same places every year, launching from the same spot. The lake is, as it always has been, a dynamic and ever-changing thing. So we as users have to take the same approach and adjust. And when the lake level goes back up, we adjust again.
Simple enough. No graphs required.
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) you could use a combination of 2 7/8 and 2 3/8 and make shorter sections that slipped together.
