OPINION — The Lake Powell Pipeline might look like a great idea for Southeastern Utah. We’re in the thick of ongoing drought right now, and some fear losing water in the Virgin River system as climate change progresses.
Scientists are now saying that we should probably refer to this drought (1999-present) not as drought, but as aridification, the long-term progression of increasingly dry conditions. Drought implies the dry spell will soon be over. Climate change says otherwise for the Colorado River Basin.
The problem with the Lake Powell Pipeline is that water in the Colorado River is going to diminish as climate change progresses, just like the Virgin River. This is already happening. Since 1999, there has been a 20 percent decrease in Colorado River flow. This is huge, the whole state of Utah only gets about 9 percent, for context. The predictions maintain that we can expect more of this through midcentury and even more reduction after that.
So imagine the mighty Colorado River all divvied up and barely trickling to the sea. The state of Utah is stubbornly adhering to the idea that we legally have a certain amount of water to use from the Colorado. The problem is that these “rights” are based on river flows from the past era, and we haven’t adapted them to the good science that we now have.
In reality, if the Lake Powell Pipeline gets built, it probably won’t be able to pump water for more than a few measly years. It is a waste of money.
Submitted by SARAH STOCK, Grand County.
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Letters to the Editor are not the product of St. George News, its editors, staff or news contributors. The matters stated and opinions given are the responsibility of the person submitting them. They do not reflect the product or opinion of St. George News and are given only light edit for technical style and formatting.
Regardless if you are for the LPP ….after it gets built, if you live in Washington county? You will be paying for it the rest of your lives, and your kids lives, and their kids lives…
Correct! To clarify what this means is “it is a waste of money, OUR MONEY”.
Nothing to see here folks. Move along. It’s just a pipeline that will basically run along side the same river it would naturally flow down??? It’s a great idea for the people building it. It’s not like those same people are the only ones who want it. Jeez your being a bunch of conspiracy theorists.
wow, the site really doesn’t want me to post this comment I’m trying to post
keeps going to error page “Oops! That page can’t be found.”
that’s so weird because it’s just a plain text comment. Site seems to not like it
Just posted one for you, C. If you’ll email me with a contact number I’ll hook you up with our chief wizard and I’m sure he can help you if you’re still having problems. You can email me privately at [email protected].
I’ll watch for that email.
Joyce
EIC
Thank you , Joyce. It’s the oddest thing because it just seemed like the wordpress software (I think that’s what the site uses) just seemed to not like something about the combination of words. It wasn’t anything special, or a very long comment (about as long as this one), and i never try to use code or anything (don’t really know how haha). The most I ever put is links. I’m not sure I saved it anywhere, but if I find I maybe I’ll email it and you guys can see if it’s some kind of glitch. If it does the error again with a dif comment i will def let you guys know. Thanks again.
But the EIC does! Posting this one, have we missed another, C?
ST. GEORGE NEWS
Joyce Kuzmanic
Editor in Chief
If we insist on allowing rampant growth and we keep popping out 6 kids/family, we need the pipeline. If you vote in pro-growth politicians, you’ll be stuck with the LPP no matter what
You won the ‘ stupid comment ‘ of the day award