Nevada legislature takes serious look at tearing down Lake Powell’s Glen Canyon Dam

Lake Powell, Arizona, date not specified | Stock image, St. George News

CARSON CITY, Nev. — For boaters and tourist businesses in southeastern Utah, draining Lake Powell would be a disaster. But for environmentalists and those who rely on water from Lake Mead, it might be a dream.

The two sides faced off in Carson City, Nevada on May 17 in a meeting of the Nevada Senate Committee on Natural Resources.

They were discussing Assembly Joint Resolution 4, which would have called on the federal government to study Colorado River water management, including the possibility of draining Lake Powell and destroying the Glen Canyon Dam.

The Salt Lake City based non-profit, the Glen Canyon Institute, was on hand to testify in favor taking down the dam.

“In no uncertain terms, the Glen Canyon Dam is one of the most environmentally destructive projects in our nation’s history,” said Eric Belken, executive director of the Institute.

Read the full story here:  Fox13Now.com

Written by MAX ROTH, Fox13Now.com

Copyright 2017, KSTU. A Tribune broadcasting station

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13 Comments

  • Proud Rebel June 3, 2017 at 10:16 am

    What am I missing here? How can Nevada destroy a dam that is not in Nevada? The last time I looked, Glen Canyon Dam was in Arizona. Did they move it?
    I also thought that this was an issue settled years ago, in court. Is this legitimate, or just a bunch of knuckleheads looking for some bucks and some publicity?

  • Lastdays June 3, 2017 at 10:42 am

    Newsflash: The Utah and AZ legislature are convening to block Nevada and their silly idea of removing Glen Canyon Dam !
    Where would the Trillion dollars (or more) come from to remove this dam with all the EPA regulations we currently have in place ?
    Who pays to sandblast stain on 3000 miles of shoreline ? And more EPA regs.
    What would cost be to restore lake footprint back to original state before lake was filling up? A Trillion more, plus more regs.
    What about lost hydro-electric power generation ? Put solar and wind power in its place ?
    Removing dam is by far the stupidest idea ever introduced in any state government session !

  • knobe June 3, 2017 at 10:44 am

    Crazy question , but if the Lake is in Utah & the dam in Arizona
    How does the Nevada legislature have any authority ?
    Even it it filled Mead again , it would only be a few years until Vegas over development had it down to 1075 ‘ again .

    • desertgirl June 3, 2017 at 2:19 pm

      Nevada is one of seven states that signed the Colorado River Compact. Each state has a say. Of course the Colorado River is the central character. Having spent a number of years in Las Vegas, I learned the Southern Nevada Water Authority has great power and is opposed to the legislation.

      • knobe June 4, 2017 at 10:18 am

        Thank-you , I knew the Compact gave share rights but was not aware they had power in future management .
        I understand everyone having an opinion about it but do they actually have authority to act ?

        • desertgirl June 4, 2017 at 12:01 pm

          Let’s put it this way; their opinion and advice is taken seriously.

    • comments June 3, 2017 at 2:59 pm

      Sounds like their considering petitioning the feds to do it. It’s probably on federal lands and the feds would be the ones with the final say. It sounds like a pipe dream more than something that would be realistically considered. The pipe dream of our local greed crew, the wcwcd, might actually become a reality –pun intended, LOL 😉

      • knobe June 4, 2017 at 10:22 am

        It is interesting because at the time the River Compact went into effect ,
        Vegas was smaller than Phoenix , 2 saloons and a general store so ,
        They got little to nothing except some meager allowances of water above 1075 ft .
        Fully draining Powell would give Mead a temporary boost but as soon as it drops to 1075 again ,
        So Cal Metro Water holds ALL the cards !

  • Mr. W June 3, 2017 at 1:40 pm

    I was always taught that when both sides are given an opportunity to speak its informative and when its only one side it is propaganda. Well written article…you forgot to write anything other than the environmentalist’s side.

  • utahdiablo June 3, 2017 at 11:55 pm

    Oh well….so much for the lake Powell Pipeline eh Ron Thompson? …..And so much for the continued over building with southern Utah homes….works for me,……get the hell out Tourists

    • knobe June 4, 2017 at 10:24 am

      I doubt that So Utah could ever afford that pipeline .
      Even big guy Vegas is failing at getting their pipeline to their last upstate aquifer .
      Both have to learn to hyper manage the tiny amounts of water that are here .

  • commonsense June 4, 2017 at 5:36 pm

    Nevada is desperate for water. They tried to steal the aquifer on the Utah border.
    My prayer is that God will just let the evil state dry up or drop into the sea with other liberal states making up our left coast leaving responsible states to edge our country.

    • comments June 5, 2017 at 12:12 pm

      My “prayer” is that those Joseph Smith worshiping f-LDS polygamist mormons up in short creek will stop molesting and raping children and defrauding the welfare system, and that Utah’s gov’t will stop pretending the problem doesn’t exist. There’s evil everywhere, not just “librul states”. You’ve taken black and white thinking to a whole new level. And with what you said here I know that you’re a religious nutter/loon and not just simple, lol. cheers 😉

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