High Water 1984 and the BIG Problem Then

[keegansean]

Someone told me that they would never allow powell be "full" again because the Dam wouldn't be able to withstand the pressure. Anyone know any truth to that or just a story?

 

[Ryan]

We were down during the first full + panic in '83 ..They had just built the BF "on the water Marina Store" , which the last time I knew is used for storage, because now it is a mile from water level. We came down over July 4th , I think, and they had all kinds of earthmoving tires and sand to keep the water out and the store was literally below the surface of the lake. We boated to within 75' of the store, walked over the dam, DOWN into the store

I remember that as well. I think of it EVERY time I have to park at the "old marina store" and walk all the way down to the slips. As an aside, I called and asked for the shuttle to pick me up at the "old marina store" last year, and they had no clue what I was talking about. Apparently now it is called the maintenance shop.

Also remember the drive to the lake that trip. There was water at/going over many of the bridges on the way out on I70.

That was the year that we could drive the boats up to Rainbow Bridge, that was also the location of the marina before they moved it Dangling rope.

Maybe it is just in my mind, but I feel like there was a year "way back when" that you could actually bring the boat back under or nearly all the way under the bridge.

 

[Dworwood]

Definitely you could, one of the pictures I posted from back then was taken out of the boat and we drove the boat directly under the arch. Back then people climbed it and there two people on top while we were there. We commented about how some day that would be a no no, that day came fairly soon after that.

 

[K&M]

We have heard that as well, but have nothing to really back it up. I'll be Wayne can speak to the question, though!

 

[Squirrel]

I remember when they were launching smaller boats from the Marina Store parking lot way back when. Sq

 

[Trix]

Someone told me that they would never allow powell be "full" again because the Dam wouldn't be able to withstand the pressure. Anyone know any truth to that or just a story?

That is certainly a myth, maybe another false allegation from the drainer organizations. According to Friends of Lake Powell website, the target operational level is 3640. I'm so fortunate, and old, to have boated the entire length of the lake when it was full in the 80's, and swam under Rainbow Bridge. I doubt that Powell will go to 3700 again, which would create the risk of over topping the dam. But Mother Nature and the USBR could take it to near full someday.