Paladin
Well-Known Member
Most recently I had the honor and privilege of a conference call with Superintendent Shott regarding the current state of affairs at Lake Powell and the Glen Canyon Recreational Area. This call was facilitated by a long time Lake Powell house-boater and avid participant in this blog. He and I, along with representatives from the offices of Sen. Mitt Romney, Sen. Mike Lee, Representative Stewart of Utah’s 2nd District, Superintendent Shott and three of his closest aides participated in the call. The call was private, intimate and privileged and I will not repeat all that was said or discussed but would like to share with this board a bit of the discussion.
I made it clear to the group that I represented only myself as a recreationist and that I would be pursuing my recreational water rights on Lake Powell.
I made it clear to the group that I represented only myself as a recreationist and that I would be pursuing my recreational water rights on Lake Powell.
- Mr. Shott assured us that he was philosophically and politically committed to the restoration of Lake Powell and bringing it back to what it once was. He is adamant about that position and I found his commentary quite reassuring.
- All of the lost infrastructure at Lake Powell is under review for rehabilitation/replacement. The first of several feasibility studies has been contracted with Jacobs Engineering to study the replacement of such infrastructure as Dangling Rope, Rainbow Bridge, and other such mid-lake facilities including bathrooms and rest stops and fuel stations. Hall’s Marina will be rehabilitated. Hite will be rebuilt and brought back to life. Bullfrog Marina will most likely be moved from its present location and completely rebuilt. Multiple improvements will be made to the Wahweep launch facilities. How to accomplish this will arise from multiple feasibility studies from Jacobs Engineering.
- Superintendent Shott fully supports minimum water levels in Lake Powell to preserve all of the new and improved and rehabilitated infrastructural components.
- All of the components of the Drought Response Operations Plan (DROA) are being reviewed and future policy will be forthcoming from the BOR and the NPS. Superintendent Shott fully supports an inviolate stated level for Lake Powell below which no water will be withdrawn. This will eventually impact the Lower Basin States as they will be shorted on their allocated water. We all discussed the eventuality of this if weather conditions do not change substantially.
- Superintendent Shott agreed with us, as recreationists, that it is bad policy to limit recreational activities on Lake Powell by constantly fiddling with water levels trying to reach a level of discharge for the Lower Basin States that is unsustainable and impractical. As non-consumptive users it is only logical that recreationists should enjoy the amenities of Lake Powell and continue its cash funding and the development of the economic impact that such cash income has on the areas surrounding the Glen Canyon Recreational Area. That requires a definable and inviolate level of water below which the lake would never go.
- Superintendent Shott would support a minimum Lake level for Lake Powell at 3560 to 3550. This number was originally proposed by the BOR in its 2012 - 2013 report. He is confident that level would adequately support and maintain all of the new infrastructural components planned for the lake.
- The current construction Of the Ramp at Bullfrog is going well and the ramp should be completed and be operative by May 1.