By Contributing Writer
Lake Powell
The Glen Canyon dam which formed Lake Powell was laid down in 1960. The dam was completed in 1963, and it took 17 years to fill the reservoir to capacity. Lake Powell has long been the focus of heated debate between groups seeking to drain the lake and those seeking to protect it. The economic and environmental impacts have been debated endlessly, and the net benefits and losses well considered. Of course, the groups seeking to restore the natural flow of the river have their own reasons for wanting the lake drained, including animal rights and environmental impact. The reasons not to drain the lake, however, are equally as compelling, and the debate still rages.
Drought Protection
Lake Powell provides a vital link in the chain which helps mitigate drought conditions. Both Lake Mead and Lake Powell play vital roles in the maintenance of the water supply along the Colorado River. Without Lake Powell, a drought would cause a severe strain on the Lake Mead area. Without Lake Powell to mitigate the water loss, it's estimated that the Lake Mead Reservoir, during a difficult drought, could easily drop to as low as 6 percent of its total storage capacity.
Navajo Nation Economic Considerations
The Navajo Nation draws a huge portion of its income from the nearby Navajo Generating Station. Were Lake Powell to be drained, the Generating Station would be closed and that revenue stream would end. The loss of hundreds of jobs would be acutely felt throughout the large Navajo population. Estimates by congressional analysts show that the tribe would lose nearly $100 million annually.
Air Quality
Were Lake Powell to be drained, the Environmental Protection Agency estimates that thousands of tons of loose silt and sand would be exposed to air, much like the air quality problems now suffered in the Lake Owens area of California. Strong breezes could cause those particulates to take to the air, and the atmosphere surrounding the emptied lake would suffer dramatically. Winds would turn the sand and silt into massive sandstorms, since the hundreds of square miles of exposed lake bed would become vulnerable.
Natural Beauty
In addition to economic and environmental concerns, the fact remains that the dried lake bed would quickly become an untenable eyesore. In order to reclaim the land now covered in water and make it palatable once again, billions of dollars of federal money would need to be spent, and that's with no guarantee of success.
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Lake Powell image by Keith Hender from
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