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Lake Mead Shrinking

Don
Don
Apr 25, 2015
3:48am
Block User
"Sunday’s [26 April 2015] forecast for Lake Mead calls for breezy conditions, with a high in the low 80s and a water level as low as it has been in 78 years.

The reservoir east of Las Vegas is expected to reach a new record low this weekend and continue downward another 7 feet through June, as the drought-stricken Colorado River withers from its 12th dry year since 2000.

The latest projections by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation call for the new record to arrive sometime after midnight Sunday, when the surface of Lake Mead dips below the current low-water mark, set on Aug. 13, 2014, of 1,080.19 feet above sea level.

The last time Lake Mead was this low was May 1937, the same month as the Hindenburg explosion. The reservoir then was filling for the first time behind the new Hoover Dam."

Ref: Las Vegas Review-Journal

Oh, . . .the humanity.
jatki
jatki
Apr 25, 2015
4:24am
Block User
When we were there last year(or year before that?) with our son, we did the lake mead queen or whatever that boats' called and seeing the water level up close was truly amazing. When looking at pics of thje lake or even standing on the dam and looking at the lake doesn't come close to be down there on the water and seeing just how tall or high up the "usual" water mark is. When we got down to the intakes, I remember thinking those are as tall as a small skyscraper and then you look around and think about the enormity the volume of water it's gonna take to fill that puppy back up.

So what's plan B when the level drops below the new intake tunnel?
forkushV
forkushV
Apr 25, 2015
5:08am
Block User
In 100 years, people will be look at pictures of homes in the Mojave and Sonora deserts with big green lawns and ask, "What were they thinking?" So either get rid of the lawns, or stop issuing building permits.
clcjim
clcjim
Apr 25, 2015
5:22am
Block User
Quote
Originally posted by: jatki99
So what's plan B when the level drops below the new intake tunnel?



Plan B: AIl of the Vegas hotels put in much lower shower heads like the ones at Main Street Station. Taking a shower becomes pretty much impossible for anyone over 4’10”. Las Vegas becomes somewhat stinkier because visitors don’t shower anymore, but nobody really notices because everyone’s been drinking way too much.

Think of the water that’ll save.



CowboyKell
CowboyKell
Apr 25, 2015
6:09am
Block User
Quote
Originally posted by: forkushV
In 100 years, people will be look at pictures of homes in the Mojave and Sonora deserts with big green lawns and ask, "What were they thinking?" So either get rid of the lawns, or stop issuing building permits.


OR......they will look at pictures of the once low lake and say "Why didn't they install waterless urinals in the casinos."

Remember, there is no water shortage. We have the same amount of water on the planet that we always have had.
drmilled
drmilled
Apr 25, 2015
6:14am
Block User
What is plan "B"? Ask those mental giants in California- they think they have all the answers to everything - but don't expect any answers, for they don't have a clue how to fix anything.
jatki
jatki
Apr 25, 2015
6:29am
Block User
Quote
Originally posted by: forkushV
In 100 years, people will be look at pictures of homes in the Mojave and Sonora deserts with big green lawns and ask, "What were they thinking?" So either get rid of the lawns, or stop issuing building permits.



I completely agree. I've seen homes in the desert with big lush lawns with the sprinklers cranked up and think how completely insane that is, "YOU LIVE IN THE DESERT!". Landscape should be a dry, rock, cactus and palm tree type theme.All those sprinklers going, how much of that is lost to evaporation, almost immediately in the extreme heat.
forkushV
forkushV
Apr 25, 2015
6:36am
Block User
Quote
Originally posted by: CowboyKell
Quote
Originally posted by: forkushV
In 100 years, people will be look at pictures of homes in the Mojave and Sonora deserts with big green lawns and ask, "What were they thinking?" So either get rid of the lawns, or stop issuing building permits.


OR......they will look at pictures of the once low lake and say "Why didn't they install waterless urinals in the casinos."

Remember, there is no water shortage. We have the same amount of water on the planet that we always have had.
Your solution would be as futile as pissing in the ocean. On the other hand, just one square foot of Las Vegas lawn requires 55 gallons of water per year.

And yes, the same amount of water exists as always. But human population growth, along with human diets, consume much more water. For example, to produce a 1/3 pound hamburger it takes 660 gallons.
jatki
jatki
Apr 25, 2015
6:39am
Block User
Quote
Originally posted by: CowboyKell
Quote
Originally posted by: forkushV
In 100 years, people will be look at pictures of homes in the Mojave and Sonora deserts with big green lawns and ask, "What were they thinking?" So either get rid of the lawns, or stop issuing building permits.


OR......they will look at pictures of the once low lake and say "Why didn't they install waterless urinals in the casinos."

Remember, there is no water shortage. We have the same amount of water on the planet that we always have had.


Never thought of it that way, problem is it's been redistributed from all the places it's needed, where it was once abundant it's now scarce. The really scary shortages are the low levels of some of the more significant water tables, particularly in the portions of the country's "bread basket" that are extremely low. It takes more than a good downpour to replenish those tables.

CowboyKell
CowboyKell
Apr 25, 2015
8:51am
Block User
Quote
Originally posted by: forkushV
Quote
Originally posted by: CowboyKell
Quote
Originally posted by: forkushV
In 100 years, people will be look at pictures of homes in the Mojave and Sonora deserts with big green lawns and ask, "What were they thinking?" So either get rid of the lawns, or stop issuing building permits.


OR......they will look at pictures of the once low lake and say "Why didn't they install waterless urinals in the casinos."

Remember, there is no water shortage. We have the same amount of water on the planet that we always have had.
Your solution would be as futile as pissing in the ocean. On the other hand, just one square foot of Las Vegas lawn requires 55 gallons of water per year.

And yes, the same amount of water exists as always. But human population growth, along with human diets, consume much more water. For example, to produce a 1/3 pound hamburger it takes 660 gallons.


55 gallons a YEAR. It would be easy to surmise that ONE average sized casino uses 55 gallons of water per HOUR for urinals. I still see 1 gal. and 1.5 gal. per flush urinals out there. The "Green" restrooms use .5 gal. per flush. Why not 0? I'm not saying the lawns aren't wasteful but I would rather start with the urinals. Always take care of your largest expense first, it's the key to my success.

My point on the ever continuing amount of existing water is that there are simple, easy solutions out there. you just have to implement them.

Now about that 1/3 pound of hamburger meat.....At the same time, using the same 660 gallons of water you get a whole lot of other products and uses.

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