For immediate release
August 11, 2003
Contact: John Weisheit (435) 259-1063
Sediment makes access to Hite Marina impossible
Glen Canyon Dam hydropower at risk
As predicted two years ago by the environmental group Living Rivers in Moab, Utah, Colorado River sediment at Hite Marina has necessitated the removal of all reservoir conveniences such as the floating store, fuel docks, water and septic lines, boat rentals, and courtesy docks. With the blessing of the National Park Service the concessions operator, ARAMARK, has literally lifted anchor and towed their floating facilities down-reservoir to keep their investment from becoming engulfed in mud.
A "use at your own risk" boat launch currently remains open for the convenience of river runners and small, hard-hull boaters. Because Lake Powell reservoir is dropping fast, this primitive boat ramp will be completely unusable by the first of September, and will force river runners to go another 45 miles down-reservoir to exit instead at Bullfrog Marina.
The land-based facilities at Hite, which includes a store, gasoline, drinking water and a sewer clean-out, will remain open to service the needs of the residents and the traveling public.
In 1986 the Bureau of Reclamation determined that the delta for the Colorado River arm was located at Dark Canyon, which is 15 miles above Hite. The National Park Service and ARAMARK jointly authorized a sediment survey to be conducted by Mussetter Engineering of Denver in 2000. The engineers had determined that the delta advanced from Dark Canyon to the mouth of the Dirty Devil River at a rate of about one-mile per year. At present the delta is just beyond Hite Marina where the original river channel is 245 feet below the full reservoir elevation of 3700 feet.
According to the 2000 survey, reservoir managers were given another 35 years of service at Hite Marina provided the reservoir could be maintained at full pool. "Such a projection is incredibly optimistic," says John Weisheit, conservation director of Living Rivers. "Considering the downstream demand for water, the present drought situation, and how the river erodes into the exposed sediment and feeds the delta, the facilities at Hite are basically history."
By April of 2004, Lake Powell reservoir is predicted to be 106 feet below normal. At this elevation, Bullfrog and Antelope Point marinas will also feel the effects of sustained drought. The boat ramp at Bullfrog is beginning to flatten out and the lack of incline will make it very difficult to load and unload boats--especially longer craft such as a houseboat and the highway department’s ferryboat. Because Antelope Point is located on the rim of the original Colorado River canyon, the lowering reservoir level will perch this boat ramp high and dry. Already boat traffic is creating congestion problems at the narrows before Antelope Point and a no-wake designation is now being enforced to minimize hazards to navigation.
During the spring snowmelt, Lake Powell reservoir levels rose a mere 11 feet. Already the reservoir has returned to the levels of the previous winter. With no drought relief in sight, this continuing trend will eventually place power generation at risk too. The minimum storage level to safely produce electricity is set at 6 million acre-feet. Right now the reservoir is storing 12.7 million acre-feet of water at 50% of capacity. Power generation at Glen Canyon Dam could effectively end in two or three years under present drought conditions.
"This drought emphasizes the dubious nature of Lake Powell reservoir. By decommissioning Glen Canyon Dam we could restore five hundred miles of river to its natural habitat, which includes Grand Canyon National Park, while at the same time saving the water that is otherwise lost to evaporation, " concludes Weisheit, who is also the designated Colorado Riverkeeper.
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