October 29, 2007

GCNRA Announces Environmental Assessment for deepening the Castle Rock Cut

Glen Canyon National Recreation Area is beginning an
environmental assessment to examine the environmental effects of deepening an area on Lake Powell commonly called the Castle Rock Cut.

The Castle Rock Cut is a popular short-cut route on Lake Powell that allows boaters to conveniently travel between the Wahweap Marina and other destinations uplake.  Due to long-term drought conditions, however, the Castle Rock Cut has not been usable since 2003.

The Castle Rock Cut is currently open to boaters when Lake Powell is at an elevation of 3,620-feet or higher.  Lake Powell is currently about 3,600-feet in elevation.  The environmental assessment will look at deepening the Castle Rock Cut so it is navigable at other water levels.

Interested individuals are encouraged to provide their comments about the project to the National Park Service by mailing them to:

Castle Rock Cut EA, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
P.O. Box 1507
Page, AZ  86040. 

All comments must be received by December 4, 2007.

July 4, 2007

Friends Makes $250 Donation to upcoming Lake Powell C.A.S.T. For Kids

The Friends of Lake Powell are proud to be a participant in the first annual C.A.S.T. event to be held on Saturday, September 29, 2007 at Stateline Launch Ramp near Page, Arizona.

Volunteer boat captains are needed. If you can help disabled and disadvantaged children "Catch a Special Thrill"....see the flyer below for additional details and contact information. Help us make a difference!

Lake Powell C.A.S.T For Kids Event Flyer

July 1st, 2007

Order your copy of Lake Powell Tales - An Anthology of Adventure

An engaging and entertaining collection of personal stories that span the decades of exploring and enjoying America’s most scenic lake, in the heart of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.

"Humans by nature are drawn to water. So come with us and experience majestic Lake Powell and rejuvenate your soul in her waters". - Editor Tiffany Mapel

More Lake Powell Merchandise

June 18, 2007

Lake Level Reaches 4 Year High - Now up to 3611' msl

Lake Powell continues to rebound even in a face of continued drought. From its low point of 3555', the lake is now up 3 consecutive years.

May 21, 2007

Lake Powell Rising Higher Than Expected

The level of Lake Powell has risen 9 feet so far this spring to 3606' and is still rising...beating the runoff expectations issued earlier this month.

A gain of another 4 to 5 feet is possible before runoff ends at the end of May / early June timeframe.

May 2, 2007

In Memory of Charlie 'Chuck' Seeger

Chuck Seeger, an Oceanside, California resident died last week in a traffic accident as he was driving to Mammoth Mountain to snowboard with a friend. He was 42. On any weekend he could be found off-roading in his Jeep in Baja, Mexico, snowboarding, or jet skiing and manning his boat at Lake Powell.

Mike Chasmar, a friend of 23 years who often accompanied Chuck Seeger in his outdoor activities contacted the Friends of Lake Powell and notified us that memorial donations in-lieu of flowers were being requested.

Charlie Seeger was a friendly, outgoing man who remained dedicated to his family, friends and wife of 15 years, Linda. He lived life with a love of adventure and passion for experiencing everything he could, his sister-in-law, Emily Seeger, said.

Upcoming Meeting - April 25

Page Community Forum

The Friends of Lake Powell and the Bureau of Reclamation bring you a Lake Powell community forum to discuss the newly proposed shortage criteria and what they mean for the future of Lake Powell.

Terry Fulp, BOR hydrologist will be the guest speaker. Meet at the Marriott, Wed. April 25th at 6:30 pm.

April 1, 2007

IMPORTANT!!

All visitors bringing boats into Glen Canyon National Recreation Area will be required to display a certificate on their dashboard stating their boat is free of zebra or quagga mussels.

Download Certificate of Cleanliness

February 8, 2007

Page Community Park Questionnaire

The Friends of Lake Powell received a grant from the Page-Lake Powell Community Foundation to document the natural history of a new community park area in Page and describe its recreational and education opportunities.

A community scoping meeting was held on February 7th to help facilitate a public vision for the park. Questionnaires will be collected through the end of March.

Community Park Resident Survey

January 11, 2007

Quagga Mussel Infestation Found in Lake Mead

On January 6th, a long feared western U.S. infestation became   reality as colonies of invasive mussels were found in Lake Mead. Quagga mussels are a zebra-type mussel that looks virtually identical its more famous, smaller cousin. Quaggas are a heartier species that survive and reproduce in colder water down to depths exceeding 400 feet. Quagga mussels in the Great Lakes have replaced zebra mussels in many locations.

Both species of invasive mussels can disrupt existing fisheries by filter-feeding on microscopic plants (phytoplankton) and animals (zooplankton) and competed for limited nutrient and food resources of the habitats they occupy.The mussel infestations can also clog industrial water intakes.

Boaters can help prevent their spread. These aquatic nuisance species can hitch a ride on clothing, boats, and items used in the water.

1) Remove any visible mud, plants, fish or animals before transporting equipment.

2) Eliminate water from boat engines and bilges where tiny larvae can hide and survive for weeks.

3) Clean and dry anything that came in contact with water (boats, trailers, equipment clothing, dogs, etc.)

4) Never release plants, fish, or animals from one body of water to another.

Read More - Quagga Mussel Facts

December 9, 2006

2007 Lake Powell Calendar

Lake lover, Dave Shebasteri, has donated his time and expertise to create a free downloadable Lake Powell calendar. Thank you Dave for your support.

December 7, 2006

Busted and fined $600,000

The Center for Biological Diversity loses a court case and appeal on libel. At issue were manipulated environmental photos the jury felt had "evil intent". These manipulated photos showed damage done by cows grazing on public lands where none 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 filed lawsuits against the Glen Canyon Dam.

October 20, 2006

Lake Rises 6 feet in October

Fall rains have pushed up the level of Lake Powell 6 feet in October with an increase of 800,000 acre-ft of additional water. Assuming that a family of four uses an acre-feet of water this represents enough water for 3.2 million people.

October 19, 2006

Colorado River Storage Project (CRSP) Celebrates 50th Anniversary

Official gathered on top Glen Canyon Dam to celebrate 50 years ago the construction start Glen Canyon Dam. Since 1963, hydroelectric generation at CRSP facilities have produced over $3 billion dollars of net revenues for the federal government above and beyond the initial construction costs.

August 26, 2006

50 Years Ago Today

"Senator Carl Hayden (D-Arizona) tells us that Glen Canyon Dam is considered a flood control project and that Arizona will ultimately receive a share of the water. The generating plant is expected to produce 800,000 KW of power and revenues are expected to pay for the dam over a period of 50 years at a 3% interest rate. He believes that it will create a new wealth and tremendous development in the Southwest."

Source: Arizona Daily Sun

August 24, 2006

Excellent reproduction and survival have resulted in record numbers of big and small fish. It is possible that striped bass numbers are greater now than at any time during their 30 year residency in the lake.

Great smallmouth and largemouth bass fishing is almost unnoticed with all the striper catching. Fishing with plastic grubs at 20-25 feet is awesome. Use a quarter ounce jig head with a green plastic offering to catch bass up to 3 pounds. Target the breaking edge of rock structure where depth rapidly increases.

Sunfish and catfish are readily taking live worms near shore.   Sunfish are in the brush and in the shade of boats while catfish are on the sandy bottom near camp.  

Fish managers feel they have a good fishery when catch rate exceeds one fish per hour.  A quick tabulation from our creel survey on Monday of this week shows 354 three-pound striped bass caught in 51 hours of fishing at Wahweap. That catch rate for striped bass only is 6.9 fish per hour. When bass and other species are added in the catch rate goes up.  Fishing at Lake Powell is 7 times better than just good fishing. It has been that way all year long and is expected to continue until winter.

If you haven’t experienced the most amazing year for fishing success ever seen at Lake Powell, now would be a good time to give it a try. 

Source: Utah Division of Wildlife Resources

July 22, 2006

Six Eco-terrorists Plead Guilty - Were responsible for millions of dollars in properly damage

Members of the Earth Liberation Front and Animal Liberation Front have pleaded guilty to 16 acts of sabotage across the West resulting in over $20 million dollars in property damage.

Their acts were an attempt to "intimidate and coerce federal agencies, private businesses and the public through sabotage."

Her voice breaking with tears, Chelsea Gerlach, 29, stated "I know now that it is better to act from love than from anger, better to create than destroy and better to plant gardens than burn down buildings."

June 7, 2006

Alarming Trend in Kite Tube Injuries

Canyon has reported 4 injuries on the Lake several of which required air transport to nearby hospitals.

Injuries have included a broken neck, cracked ribs, a punctured lung and a loss of consciousness. One of the injured users was a 14-year old girl.

Kite Tubes are large, round inflated tubes towed by a boat at 20-40 mph. The user holds onto the Kite Tube as it rises into the air, 15-60 feet from the surface of the water.  Controlling a Kite Tube is extremely challenging, and the slightest upset in its balance causes the Kite Tube to fall into the water.

We consider this kind of towable devices inherently unsafe and have urged the manufacturer and distributors to pull the product before a loss of life or other serious injuries occur.

Editors Note: Following two deaths attributed to this product, in July, the manufacturer pulled the Kite Tubes from the market.

April 6, 2006

World's Largest Floating Platform Being Constructed at Lake Powell's Newest Marina

The world’s largest floating marina platform  began its journey from land to water today when it was lifted in sections by crane into Lake Powell’s Antelope Point Marina, Glen Canyon Recreation Area’s newest marina on Lake Powell.  Phase II of the Antelope Point Marina platform project will include an on-the-water marina village of restaurant, lounge, retail store and some administration offices.  Upon completion the marina will be the largest platform of its type in the world. 

John Schoppmann, general manager of Antelope Point Marina, is overseeing the multi-million dollar project. “The floating platform is sectioned into 14 pieces totaling 1,234 cubic yards of concrete, 123 tons of reinforced steel, 122,000 cubic feet of encapsulated Styrofoam.  When fully assembled the platform will be 27,000 square feet, weighing 2,500 tons.  The platform will support 1,200 tons of live load, equivalent to 13,900 people or 685 average sized cars,” Schoppmann stated.

Editors Note: The expected opening is winter 2007

January 8, 2006

Tentative Agreement between Basin States is good news for Lake Powell

Representatives of the seven Colorado River Basin states announced Friday they have reached a tentative agreement about how the river will be managed during water shortages.

The plan would modify and coordinate the operation of the Colorado River's two major reservoirs - Lake Powell in the upper basin and Lake Mead in the lower basin - in order to ensure that neither suffers at the expense of the other. When Powell's water level is up and Mead's is low, upper basin officials will have the discretion to release additional water to the lower basin, beyond the yearly 8.23 million acre-feet they are committed to provide. Conversely, lower basin users will accept less than the 8.23 if Mead is up and Powell is faltering. Water officials cautioned that Friday's agreement is not yet official. When and if this plan is approved, it would mean that less fluctuation in the level of Lake Powell, especially during times of drought.

December 3, 2005

Grand Canyon native fish making come back

(AP) Efforts to remove non-native fish from parts of the Colorado River appear to be working, with more native fish being reported by fish-removal crews. A years-long effort to remove trout from the river by stunning the fish with electrical shocks and netting them is now in its final year. Biologists say the number of trout is dropping while the number of natives species the program is designed to help, such as speckled dace, bluehead and flannelmouth suckers and humpback chub, is increasing.

Crews have stunned, captured and killed more than 17,000 non-native fish this year. Their remains are ground up for use as fertilizer on a downstream Indian reservation. While teams used to catch native fish only about 5 percent of the time, there are now stretches of the Colorado River where they are dominant, according to Clay Nelson, the Arizona Game and Fish Department biologist contracted to run the fish-removal efforts for the Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Program.

Editors Note: The recently released USGS score report concerning native fish did not include new data that is starting to show an improving trend in native fish populations.

November 5, 2005

Adaptive Management of the Colorado River and Glen Canyon Dam

"Previous Administrations of both political parties, as well as the U.S. Congress, have said that Glen Canyon Dam is here to stay because it is serving millions of people in the Southwestern United States. Congress, through the passage of the Grand Canyon Protection Act of 1992, clearly stated that the dam and reservoir have a place in the tapestry of the country". - Commissioner Keys

To read more....

Commissioner Keys clarifies the Adaptive Management process

October 22, 2005

Hite Marina Flyover

The lake ends near the Hite Marina in this picture taken October 22nd. Next spring's runoff is likely to open the Castle Rock shortcut near Wahweap Marina and also put lake water back on the Hite launch ramp seen in the photo below.

The end of the Lake, 150 miles from Page

Wahweap Marina and Castle Rock

September 24, 2005

Response articles to GCI's claim that Lake Powell isn't needed for water storage and that the drought didn't cause the recent drawdown in Lake Powell.

July 7, 2005

Lake Powell up 53 feet to 3608' msl

Lake Powell has come up and up and up! The lake has risen 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50 feet...and now we're up 53 feet for the year! So what did we do? Well, we toasted the lake's rise by hosting an open house where we served a little blue cool aid and dined on anchovy pizza...of course!

After 5 years of severe drought we've finally had a normal snowpack and Lake Powell responded immediately. We are now within a few feet of the lake's elevation during the last bad drought in 1993. Back then all it took was 3 years and we were back very nearly to full pool. Such are the variances of the Colorado River. Precipitation is highly variable and that is why we have water storage projects in the West. 

RAMP UPDATE: The large wide main ramp at Bullfrog is now open.

The Bureau is predicting an upward trend in Lake Powell in water year 2006. Glen Canyon Dam releases will be low this fall and the lake is expected to drop only 10-12 feet before we start the cycle all over again next spring with more runoff.

Contrary to what drain-the-lake activists want to believe. Normal snowpack will continue filling Lake Powell and we are at the point now where just one super year, like what was experienced in California and Utah this past year, could fill the lake up.

For next summer, the Bureau of Reclamation has forecast the lake will be high enough to open up the Castle Rock shortcut. This will happen when we get to 3620' msl. 

FISHING UPDATE: A 38 pound striped bass was caught in June. The fish are fat and healthy. Visit www.wayneswords.com for more fishing information.

June 3, 2005

Antelope Point Public Launch - Open for Use

The National Park Service has announced the opening of the Antelope Point Public Launch Ramp at a lake elevation of 3589'.  The rising level of Lake Powell will keep this launch ramp open for the foreseeable future.  All concrete launch ramps are now open at Lake Powell with the exception of Hite.

The public ramp at Antelope Point supplements the private valet launch ramp which has been open all winter and spring and operated by Antelope Point Holdings, LLC.

May 20, 2005

Envirocare Contributes $52,000 to Lake Powell Cleanup Effort

In a press conference held May 20th in Page, Envirocare announced a $52,000 donation to assist Cross International with the ongoing lake cleanup effort of sunken boats and stranded vessels above water level.  In addition, Envirocare announced that $3 Million Dollars of additional monies have been donated to the Envirocare Environmental Foundation and earmarked for future environmental cleanup work projects and activities in the West.

May 10, 2005

Lake Powell Cleanup Begins - Boat Salvage and Dino Track Recovery

The Lake Powell cleanup of stranded vessels is now underway and needs your help! Over the weekend the workboat of Cross International Search and Recovery moved slowly through the narrow streets of North Lehi on her low-profile trailer making her way under our lines and around low overpasses on her way to Lake Powell. She is almost 49 feet long and nearly 14 feet wide looking a little bit like a miniature aircraft carrier. She’s powered by two huge Mercury 250 horsepower engines that are dwarfed by the size and length of her deck. With her new lightweight heavy-duty lift crane, she is now ready to begin her new life as a recovery vessel for dinosaur tracks and stranded watercraft.

Over the next couple of weeks she will begin removing vessels that have been stranded along the shoreline and in the waters of Lake Powell. These vessels are not only an eyesore, but also are an environmental hazard because many of them still contain oil and continue to spill into the surrounding areas. Operating under the volunteer program of the National Park Service, this is part of the volunteer cleanup program of Lake Powell.

The other project underway is that of removing dinosaur tracks from the shoreline and under the waters of Lake Powell. The plans are that the tracks will be housed in a museum in Bullfrog to be displayed where they can be enjoyed by everyone. As it is necessary to maintain our precious water resources and recreational waterways, your donations to this nonprofit cleanup operation will be greatly appreciated. Operational expenses like fuel, safety lifting equipment, and other operational needs can be met by donating directly to Cross International Search and Recovery Foundation.* You can direct your donations to dinosaur tracks or Lake cleanup by specifying at the time of your donation.

Cross International Search and Recovery Foundation 90 South Center Street American Fork, Utah 84003 TEL. 1-801-763-1223 FAX 1-801-763-1245

*Please make checks payable to Cross International Search and Recovery Foundation.

May 5, 2005

Lake Powell Up 10 feet - With Concrete Launch Ramps 

Lake Powell has come up 10 feet and launching on concrete launch ramps is available at Wahweap, Stateline and mid-lake launch ramps.

The lake is on its way up to 3600' msl this spring and a net positive rise is predicted by Bureau of Reclamation hydrologist over the next 12 months contrary to what drain-the-lake environmentalists are saying.

April 8, 2005

Lake Powell Has Bottomed Out 

The trout spawning reduction flows out of the dam end today.  Lake Powell will now stabilize for a short time before snowmelt rapidly rises the lake the rest of the spring.

Utah Fish and Wildlife is reporting the best fishing in years.  The NPS has done a great job or extending the concrete launch ramps.   2005 will be a fantastic boating season!

March 28, 2005

Cathedral in the Desert 

Cathedral in the Desert, never totally submerged by Lake Powell, is open for  viewing.  The lake will be bottoming out in mid-April, so hurry if you want to boat Clear Creek and then walk in on the floor.  It's a great place and if you haven't had an opportunity to boat there...put it on your list explorer's list.

Lake Powell is your blue highway to side canyon adventures.  

Latest Pictures of the Cathedral

December 12, 2004

Just in Time for Christmas - 'Help Lake Powell' Merchandise Proceeds help the Friends of Lake Powell

Help Lake Powell Merchandise

December 12, 2004

Comment Letters submitted to the USBR 6th Review of the Long Range Operating Criteria of the Colorado River Reservoirs

Comment Letters to Long Range Operating Criteria

November 12, 2004

Moab Uranium Tailings Remedial Action Plan Public Comment Period Open

To view the document visit http://www.eh.doe.gov/nepa/docs/deis/eis0355d/toc.html

The Department of Energy is proposing the cleanup of 11.9 million tons of contaminated material.  Each alternative would include both on site and off site activities.  The DOE does not have a preferred alternative specified.

The comment period is open through February 18, 2005

November 8, 2004

NOTICE:  41,000 cfs Beach Building Flow Proposed Public Comment Period Open UNTIL NOVEMBER 19TH

Pictures of the Flood - Before, During and After

Beach building flows moved up to late November.   The Department of the Interior has proposed to move the timing of a high flow release to rebuild beaches from January to late November and also extend mechanical removal of trout. 

To read the proposed action visit http://www.usbr.gov/uc/envdocs/ea/gc/SuppEA-ltr.pdf

FAQs: 

Why are high releases necessary?

The science of the Adaptive Management Work Group has indicated the need to conserve and use sediment that is transported down the Paria and Little Colorado Rivers to rebuild beaches in the Grand Canyon.  Recent rains in October and November introduced trigger threshold amounts of mud.  Beaches made of fine mud sediments will compact better and last longer and will contain more nutrients.  

How much water will be released?

The peak flow would be 41,000 cfs for 60 hours with a day of ramping up and day of ramping down.

What are the expected benefits? 

Bigger beaches in the Grand Canyon and the creation of new shallow backwater areas that provide a warm and protected environment for juvenile humpback chub.

What will be the impact on Lake Powell?

The lake is expected to drop 2.9 feet.  Boaters on Lake Powell will need to monitor the shoreline carefully between November 20th and November 25 and take precautions SO THAT BOATS DON'T BECOME STRANDED.

Why is this release being planned during a drought?

The extra water that would be released in November is compensated for less water released during the months of April, July and August.   There would be no net loss in lake level with the normal 8.23 maf of water being released over the course of the year.

How can I make comments?

You can send an email to dkubly@us.usbr.gov

October 21, 2004

It's Official...'Lake Powell' Stays 'Lake Powell'

A federal panel soundly rejected (10-0) a proposal to change the name of Lake Powell to Glen Canyon Reservoir taking less than 3 minutes to discuss the name change request made by a coalition of environmental groups.

The amount of comments received on the renaming request was believed to be the most for any naming case in the more than 100-year history of the board but only 13 letters were in support of the name change request

Thousands of letters and petitions of opposition arguing against the name change came from dozens of Western water boards, all of the federal land management agencies, regional tourism bureaus and chambers of commerce, and the entire Utah congressional delegation.

''To have this many responses is highly unusual,'' said Roger Payne, executive secretary to the board.

Editors note:  The Glen Canyon Institute was among those groups that favored the renaming of Lake Powell. 

October 1, 2004

Civil Engineers honor Mesa Verde Anasazi reservoirs and ditch systems

The Ancestral Puebloans who lived there until 1300 were remarkable water engineers.  Prehistoric reservoirs and ditch systems were dedicated as Historic Civil Engineering Landmarks on Sunday, joining ranks with the Golden Gate Bridge, the Eiffel Tower and the Washington Monument.

The landmark designation, one of about 230 in the world and the fifth in Colorado, recognizes Mesa Verde National Park's ancestral Puebloans for designing, constructing and maintaining at least four reservoirs for domestic water-storage between 750 and 1180 A.D. "Without so much as written language, the ancestral Puebloans that populated the riverless mesa top conquered the impossible by creating a water system to sustain their domestic and agricultural needs," said Patricia D. Galloway, president of the American Society of Civil Engineers, in a news release. "They are truly civil-engineering pioneers." "They knew how to manage water," says Eric Bikis of Wright Water Engineers Inc. in Durango. "They were ingenious."

The people of this high desert, without benefit of metals, wheels or written language, maintained at least four massive waterworks from A.D. 750 to 1180 to survive the devastating droughts of the Four Corners region. The last of these works studied, a large mound dubbed Box Elder Reservoir, wasn't discovered until a 2002 wildfire burned off a dense, high carpet of sagebrush.

A thousand years before this was a park, Wright says, Mesa Verde was an astounding collection of public construction projects, from the stone cliff dwellings to the newly appreciated water system.

September 3, 2004

Join us September 18th.  Public Lands Day Volunteers Wanted!

The Friends of Lake Powell are seeking volunteers to assist the Glen Canyon National Park Service with the removal of unsightly off road vehicle tracks along the Warm Creek Road on the west end of Lake Powell near Big Water, Utah.

The Warm Creek Road traverses a spectacular but fragile section of the Tropic Shale formation first made famous by the original Planet of the Apes movie that starrred Charlton Heston and now more recently by the paleontological excavations of large predatory marine reptiles know as plesiosaurs, one of which is on display in Page at the John Wesley Powell Museum.

Hope to see you Saturday, September 18th.  

Meet at 7:30 a.m. Arizona time at the Glen Canyon National Recreational Area Headquarters Building along Highway 89 or at 8:30 a.m. 5 miles east of Big Water along the Warm Creek road.  Bring a rake, gloves, and drinking water and wear a hat and/or sunscreen.

For further information contact the friends@lakepowell.org or NPS Educational Specialist, Joan Mayer, at 928 608-6353 .

Volunteers are invited to participate in National Public Lands Day on Saturday, September 18 from 7:30A-noon and choose from a list of several activities that inspires them to “lend a hand to America ’s lands.” 

Volunteer groups including home schoolers and other youth groups, Friends of Lake Powell, Glen Canyon Natural History Association, National Park Service rangers and local residents are asked to roll up their sleeves and devote a few hours of labor in the lands we all use to recreate, explore, learn and relax.  

Projects volunteers can participate in include:

Warm Creek Road just outside of Big Water for removal of off-road tracks plus installation of new signage and boundary markers