Good News for Lake Powell in '05

The Bureau of Reclamation just updated their forecast for Lake Powell in 2005. Looks like the lake will be up approx 50' Vertical Feet from this winters low point. Still 100' below capacity, but should be about 35' deeper than last summer. Well be there the end of July, can't wait!
http://www.nps.gov/glca/docs/launchrampupdates.pdf

Sweet - Great news. We are set for July 7-13. 50' feet verticle is alot of water on Powell. Still need a couple more years like this to recover a safe level. We are all really excited also.

that's great news!. better bring some sun block you two.

Hate to be the "Powell is half empty" guy, but I'll believe it when I see it. Honestly, I think 50' is unrealistic. I'd be happy with 30'. Last year we had close to the same expectations, and then a unseasonably hot week in March killed it. Don't get me wrong though, I would absolutely LOVE IT! Our trip is first week in June!

bdehaan - no problem for me, even half empty for a lake that size is OK. But man I hope you do see it in June so can believe it in July. Please let us all know when you get back.

Currently lake Powell is down 139.75'
The predictions from the U.S.Bureau of reclamation is projecting a peak elevation june/july of 3606 feet and full pool is 3700 feet, so this summer peak will be down 94' from full.
I guess that is nearly 50'(55' actualy) rise this year considering the lake is still droping and predicted to go down to 3551 feet then rise to peak at 3606 feet.
All in all no big problem for us at Wahweap other than a longer route to get uplake, Big problems for those at the other end though.

http://137.77.133.1/uc/water/crsp/cs/gcd.html
http://www.summittech.com/LakePowell/LP_WaterDB.php

Alan,
if the water level goes up to 3606 or so, will that give us a straight shot into warm creek bay or will we still have to go through the narrows to get to the main channel?

3625' is the min. level needed to do the castle rock cut. 2002 was the last year we were able to go directly uplake.

lets get some bulldozers out there and make a channel 50 yds wide and drop that peak down 20 feet. Sure would cut down on the Gas and sinking of quite a few boats in the narrows

Thanks for the info Alan.

E Double U, count me in on the bulldozing action. That would save a hell of a lot of time and be so much safer.

Alan, did you ever sell your share on that sweet houseboat?

There was a thread awhile back were someone thought the National park service should do this or let an outside contractor do it and give them naming rights or some crazy scheme to Antelope island(the one we now have to go around).

Houseboat is still for sale and reduced to sell, $13,495. If anyone is interested it's a great deal.
We need to sell before summer so we can repurchase another week.

Man I'm excited for the water to rise. I've benn working at lake Powell for the last 3 summers, and I am sick of losing customers. This summer should be awesome. does anyone go to bullfrog here??? If so we should hook up this summer and takes some rides together... I get cheap gas (employee price is usually $1-1.25 off a gallon)

Cody - What was the customer on water gas price last year ?

Clete...
If I remember correctly employees paid just under $2 per gallon, so customer price would have been around $3

$2.85 is what I remember paying at Dangling rope.

Hey, I would be happy to see the water level in Powell decrease at a decreasing rate, let alone actually increase.

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Thanks Cody -