I would normally agree with you, but since the states can’t seem to figure out anything themselves. The only way anything will happen if through extreme measures. If we have a couple of years like this year, it will force the politicians to make a decision instead of kicking the can down the road. I don’t look at it like cutting my nose off despite my face. I look at it as the only option for all of the lakes to be able to recover. There is rarely any sort of comfortability in austerity.
If we were to have several wet years, we would see the same results from the bureaucrats as we saw in 2022, they just kicked the can down the road and here we are again. It was mentioned up above that the release from the flaming Gorge would not raise the water at Lake Powell, but prevent it from falling past a critical point. We are only supposed to see an unregulated inflow of 3.87 maf this year, with 7 out of the last 10 years below average. We need to change our thinking, as we cannot conserve our way out of the systemic deficit. Only after the deficit has been addressed will conservation efforts make any difference. I mean that if you look at the unregulated flow when they signed the 1922 compact, it was estimated at being 16 MAF and compare that to this year’s 3.87 MAF or around 12.7 maf for a 20 year average depending on the source. It simply doesn’t matter how much money you save buying something, if you don’t have the money to spend.
I am in high hopes that they get something done with the ramps up north, so I can fish this winter at Powell. However, as much as it would suck, I would for go a couple of years of fishing. If it would result in a new workable water compact.
