Emily D'Souza- Class Reading 2: Glen Canyon Revealed

 This article discusses the concerns of Lake Powell which stretches from northern Arizona to southern Utah. This lake is a part of the Colorado River, and it’s water levels have been declining. The Dangling Rope Marina was once a thriving business, hundreds of boats would be there daily, and they made a big profit off of gas, however, in 2021 they were forced to close. Why was this? Well they said it was due to “significant wind damage and low water conditions”. Low water conditions would be an understatement; the surrounding bay which was once 200 feet dropped to only 35, and there was only one operable boat ramp left. The article states that Lake Powell is only at a quarter of its full capacity, which is insanely low, especially for it being the second-largest reservoir in North America. All sorts of trash and pollution can be seen where the lake has dried up. A big concern they have is that if the levels get too low, the dam and hydropower system in place will not be able to operate. This system supplies several states, so it will be very detrimental. They are attempting to refill the lake by taking water from smaller reservoirs upstream, but this is only a temporary fix. I liked how this article also included some personal stories about experiences people had at Lake Powell, because it shows that it’s more than just a lake, and it might give others an incentive to care about the problem. I also like how it discusses other bodies of water such as Lake Mead, others along Lake Powell, and Colorado, because it illustrates what we’ve been talking about in class; the interconnectedness of nature and the ripple effect one environmental issue can have.