Picto Diary - 13 September 2018 - Colorado River Water
Out and About on the Duc. The Mediator and the Bishop channeling Thelma and Louise. Monument Valley, UT. 13 September 2018
Out and about on the Duc. Bishop at Goosenecks (of the San Juan) State Park. UT SR 261. 13 September 2018.
Out and about on the Duc. Moki Dugway. UT SR 261. 13 September 2018.
The Mediator and the bikes...and the view...direction Four Corners.
Out and about on the Duc. 13 September 2018.
Bears Ears buttes. Focal point of what the fuss is all about.
Each butte rises to 9,000 feet and can be seen, on a clear day as far away as Mesa Verde. — at Bears Ears National Monument.
Out and about on the Duc. UT SR 95. Bicentennial Highway. Hite Marina, "Lake" Powell. 13 September 2018.
Colorado River is barely seen just above the rock ledge lower, far right.
No image better foreshadows the water problems facing the American south west today. — at Hite
Law of the River treaty passed in 1922, and administered by the US Bureau of Reclamation, is over subscribed. The treaty allocated Colorado River water between lower and upper compact states by volume... not by percentage.
Lower states have received their allocation only because upper states haven't used all to which they are entitled.
Despite declining river volumes over the last 20 years of drought, upper states are still required to send the lower states their allotted volume: 7.5 million acre feet. California gets first dibs on the 7.5 million acre feet up to 4.0 million acre feet.
Upper states have used Lake Powell as a mechanism to ensure lower state allotment is met. When full, Lake Powell holds four years worth of lower state water... but, lake Powell, as can be seen in the image, is drying up. There is now only two years reserve.
Also, upper states now moving to secure their entire allotment. For example, St. George, UT pushing for a billion dollar pipeline to pipe in 500K acre feet to fast growing Washington County.
So... pressure from all sides. If drought continues, there won't be enough water to satisfy all claimants.
Out and About on the Duc. Bishop and Mediator at Goblin Valley State Park. UT SR 24. 13 September 2018.
Bishop and Mediator have been riding friends for twenty years. Too many trips to name... but, we've ridden together most of the roads between Marfa, TX and Hyder, AK. Other friends, including Captain Hook, Markco, Contractor, and His Highness have joined on many of those rides.
Out and about on the Duc. Duc and sentinels, Goblin Valley State Park. UT SR 24. 13 September 2018.
Out and about on the Duc. San Rafael Swell. 13 September 2018.
Fremont people rock art. 800 years old.
Out and about on the Duc. John Wesley Powell River Museum. Green River, UT. 13 September 2018.
Worth the visit. I've visited the museum a half dozen times. There is a very good bookstore in the museum, and I always manage to walk away with something. This time: "Desert Water - The Future of Utah's Water Resources." edited by Hal Crimmel.
Addendum:
Above: Cousin Diane.
Steve,
We traveled the same road you did but a bit more encumbered than you were on the Duc.
Pulled the trailer to Rapid City to visit periodontist son Mark. They live 20 mins from Mt Rushmore. Pretty country.
Dr Bill,
Mesa, AZ
Steve, this is the artist from Mt. Carmel. I could not remember his name. His paintings sell in some cases for 100s of thousands. Look up his home when in Mt. Carmel again.
The Monk,
Salina, UT