Chris RowanMar 8, 2023

As the level of Lake Powell behind the Glen Canyon dam get dangerously low, this excellent piece (with some spectacular photos) explores what is being revealed, what was lost when the reservoir was filled, and the uncertainty over what is to come.

Is there any precedent for a river basically becoming completely disconnected from its downstream reaches by a dam with stranded intakes?

https://www.hcn.org/issues/55.2/features-water-glen-canyon-revealed

Glen Canyon revealed

What comes next for Lake Powell?

Show threadChris RowanMar 8, 2023
The water crisis in the southwestern US is the whole climate crisis in a microcosm: unrealistic assumptions about perpetual abundance producing a whole infrastructure locked into those assumptions, which is now breaking as it is put under more and more stress. And a complete failure to adapt due to the dominance of short-term self-interest.
Show threadChris RowanMar 8, 2023
I have, on and off, been reading the Water Knife by Paolo Bacigalupi, which is a near future dystopia set in a water-starved Arizona/Nevada. On because it is pretty compelling, off because it is really depressing how it seems more prophetic now than when it was published.
Show threadSane Thinker
@allochthonous Still enough water for lithium mining, apparently. Insert sarcastic snort here. https://geoffreydeihl.substack.com/p/showdown-at-thacker-pass
Showdown at Thacker Pass

Lithium: New Resource, Same Old Story

Sane Thoughts for Insane Times
Mar 8, 2023 at 11:20pmWeb