Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and this is certainly the case when it comes to Lake Powell. Depending on your point of view, Lake Powell is either one of the most spectacular lakes in the world or a hated “beast” needing to be drained at all cost.

For decades, environmental groups have run free and loose with their facts.

Now, however, lake lovers have learned to speak up. Organizations like the Friends of Lake Powell, passionate recreationists and other impacted entities are fighting back against environmental propaganda and other forms of media misinformation.

Fighting Back: An Environmental Group Busted and Fined $600,000

The Center for Biological Diversity in Tucson recently lost a court case and their appeal in regards to a libel case involving a media misinformation campaign. At issue were a set of manipulated environmental photos that the jury felt had "evil intent." These manipulated photos showed apparent damage by cows grazing on public lands where none actually existed.

The court declared that the Center and its employees “made false statements” in their media press release which “contained misleading photographs” and “did not accurately describe the condition” of a Forest Service grazing allotment near Nogales, Arizona.

This is the same environmental organization that has recently filed lawsuits against the Glen Canyon Dam.

Preserve, Protect and Promote Lake Powell

The Friends of Lake Powell are working to improve Lake Powell’s environmental image.

We’ve been in involved in lake cleanup projects, the removal of sandstone graffiti, the removal of off-road vehicle tracks in sensitive areas, boater education and safety campaigns, and promoting the million acres of spectacular Glen Canyon backcountry which surround Lake Powell.

It is our mission and dedication to:

· Preserve Lake Powell and Glen Canyon Dam and protect them from misinformation media campaigns.

· To develop and support environmental enhancements of Lake Powell, Glen Canyon Dam and Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.

· To represent the millions of people who visit and enjoy these resources yearly as well as the millions of others who depend upon them for their economic well-being.

· To develop partnerships with local, state or federal officials and agencies.

Together we can make a difference for the future of Lake Powell.

Lake Powell Continues Upward Trend

Lake Powell is on the rise! From the low point of 3555’ msl, the lake is on a two year upward trend and runoff in 2007 looks to make it three years in a row!

Following a series of good storms in October that increased the level of Lake Powell over 6 feet, the Bureau of Reclamation increased their summer projections for Lake Powell. We are now expecting the lake to reach a level of 3630’ msl by July. This would put the lake up 75 feet from the low point experienced in 2005 during the depths of the drought.

And so, it’s just a matter of time before the waterway short cut between Wahweap Bay and Warm Creek is open to boat traffic, once again.

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Wahweap Marina and Castle Rock from the air

Building Partnerships

In early 2007, the Friends of Lake Powell will be partnering with the Bureau of Reclamation to host a public meeting on the newly proposed reservoir operating criteria.

These new criteria, if and when adopted, could have a substantial and positive impact on Lake Powell.

We will also be partnering next year with the National Park Service and the volunteer Graffiti Removal Intervention Team (G.R.I.T.) to document and possibly authenticate a very important historical inscription recently discovered in Glen Canyon near Lake Powell.

Details will be forthcoming in future newsletters.

Friends of Lake Powell Awarded Community Foundation Grant for new City of Page Community Park

In November 2006, the Friends of Lake Powell received a Page-Lake Powell Community Foundation grant associated with a new City of Page nature park on the north end of town and adjacent to the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Grant monies will be used to help facilitate a vision for the new park with city officials and community stakeholders.

The grant report will include an inventory of the many biological and natural features contained in the park, outline opportunities for interpretation and education, and include preliminary landscaping ideas that incorporate plants with cultural significance and/or promote water conservation.

This new city park in Page, Arizona offers hiking opportunities and spectacular views of Lake Powell.