Lake Mead Water Level to drop to historic lows 4

[bimr]

Potential double whammy; Reduced water supply and power.

The man-made lakes that store water supplying millions of people in the U.S. West and Mexico are projected to shrink to historic lows in the coming months, dropping to levels that could trigger the federal government’s first-ever official shortage declaration and prompt cuts in Arizona and Nevada.

Link

The Bureau of Reclamation also projected that Lake Mead will drop to the point they worried in the past could threaten electricity generation at Hoover Dam. The hydropower serves millions of customers in Arizona, California and Nevada.

Link

 

[ATSE]

If California made it extremely difficult to build hospitals, then, over time, you would see a shortage of hospitals, and patients would suffer. [Truly a self-inflicted wound.]
If California makes it extremely difficult to build a new reservoir, then, over time, you will see a shortage of water. With or without climate change.
A persistent and growing shortage of water is indeed a disaster, but this is a politically-created failure, not an engineering failure.

 

[1503-44]

Shortages can be created at any point along the entire supply and demand chain.

 

[bimr]

The Hoover Dam’s completion 75 years ago marked one of the biggest public works projects in the U.S. and a win for jobs and electricity.

The Hoover Dam harnessed the power of the Colorado River to generate reliable electricity for southern California, Las Vegas, and many of the factories that helped win World War 2.

Wasn't the dam's primary purpose power, not water supply?

 

[bcd]

Hoover dam is one of several built along the river to manage flooding. Power is a side benefit. Before the dams, besides killing lots of people, ruining homes, the occasional flooding would ruin lots of rich farm land in southern California.

The dams manage the water flow into southwest US and Mexico.

Actually, very little to no power from Hoover Dam goes to Las Vegas. That is a key point made when you take the tour.

 

[1503-44]

Its not in California, is it?

Is there any flow going to MX? Thought that dried up long ago.

 

[JohnRBaker]

Yes, I've stood on that bridge in Yuma, AZ and looked at the Colorado 'River' as it 'flows' into Mexico...

John R. Baker, P.E. (ret)
EX-'Product Evangelist'
Irvine, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:

The secret of life is not finding someone to live with
It's finding someone you can't live without

 

[1503-44]

OK, maybe it doesn't reach the Sea of Cortez.

 

[LionelHutz]

Doesn't Mexico run a bunch of the water into a canal somewhere close to the border?

 

[davefitz]

I seem to recall analyses of why certain indian tribal societies failed in the past in the US southwest, and long term recurring droughts was one cause. Perhaps we are on the verge of another long term ( 100 + yr) extended drought, and the cities in the southwest may face the same fate as the prior tribes. The major consumers can be cut back , such as thermal power plants and large agricultural and fracking operations, but eventually it will hit the residents. In theory it is possible to recycle much wastewater using membrane technology, such as membrane bioreactors, and use the permeate for agriculture or for toilets. It would imply a dual piping system in the home, though.

The first step is to quantify who is using the most water , and apply some sort of benefit analysis to determine who is to be cut back first. It would also be neccesary to revisit the legacy water rights issues, as the constitution allows the taking of these rights in return for compensation. Of course , the current practice of using more water than you need under the bizarre legal concept of "use it or lose it" as applied to water rights has to be changed.

"...when logic, and proportion, have fallen, sloppy dead..." Grace Slick

 

[1503-44]

200 golf courses?

https://www.top100golfcourses.com/golf-courses/north-america/usa/nevada

https://www.top100golfcourses.com/golf-courses/north-america/usa/arizona

 

[bimr]

Within a few months, Arizona may lose water.

The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation projected earlier this month that Lake Mead, which delivers water to Arizona, Nevada, California and Mexico, will fall below 1,075 feet (328 meters) for the first time in June 2021. If the lake remains below that level in August when the bureau issues its official projection for 2022, Arizona and Nevada will lose water.

The two states already voluntarily have given up water under a separate drought contingency plan.

The voluntary and mandatory Tier 1 cuts mean Arizona will lose 18% of its Colorado River supply, or 512,000 acre-feet of water. The amount represents 30% of the water that goes to the Central Arizona Project and 8% of Arizona’s overall water supply.



Link

 

[analogkid2digitalman]

Yep, the farmers in Pinal County, AZ, are going to take a big hit in loss of water.

AZ volunteered to be the first in line to give up some water rights in order to have the Fed fund the construction of the Central Arizona Project (a very long canal that taps off the the Colorado river to deliver water to central AZ).

-AK2DM

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"It's the questions that drive us"
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[1503-44]

Gotta keep them golf courses green somehow. Call it infrastructure, get it slipped in the bill, and there's your bipartisan votes.