Follow-On To Earlier Article On Green & Colorado: Glen Canyon Facing Invasives, Drought

[hatrack]

The data is in, the science has been done, and the results of global climate change are very evident along the Colorado River, and specifically at Lake Powell. Dozens of studies by hundreds of scientists and many published reports attest to the fact that the climate is definitely becoming warmer, and drier, at Lake Powell. Less water and higher temperatures are threatening the animals, plants, and, in fact, the entire ecosystem. And, it’s going to get a lot worse, researchers say.

The numbers don’t lie. Climate scientist Brad Udall writes of the Colorado River, “Between 2000 and 2014 annual river flows averaged 19% below the 1906-1999 average. It’s the worst 15-year drought on record. One-third of flow loss is due to high temperatures.” By his calculations, river flows will be reduced by 20 percent mid-century, and 35 percent less at the end of the century. Meanwhile, temperatures have risen nearly one degree Celsius from 2000 through 2014. That’s a big change in a short amount of time.
But what can be done to mitigate this diminishing resource, which provides water to so many people? What sort of climatic conditions will we see in the future on the Colorado Plateau? How can we predict these changes and react to them? How will this warmer and drier climate affect the entire environment and ecosystem, the animals and plants that live there?

EDIT

Some species are being stressed by the drought and heat, and are already in trouble. Across the Colorado Plateau the Pinyon trees are dying off, possibly due to the drought. Without these trees, the biological soil crusts and grass cover beneath them are threatened. They hold moisture, and secure the soil and without them, we could be in trouble. “We need something to stabilize the soil or we’ll end up being a big sand dune,” says Hyde. “And, what do we do when we start seeing natives of the Sonoran and Mojave Desert? Do we consider creosote bush a weed?”

Lake Powell is already stressed and in crisis due to one invasive species: Quagga mussels. Since 2012 they have spread throughout the lake, clogged boat motors and impeded operations at Glen Canyon Dam, according to Clem Wasicek, a technician with the Utah Division of Wildlife. Decontamination stations last year cleaned and inspected about 120,000 water craft leaving the lake. “We are on the lookout for other invasive plants,” he says. “Eurasian watermilfoil and water hyacinth haven’t taken over our lake yet, and possibly New Zealand mud snails and crayfish, another invasive. It’s a very big mosh pit of things going on.”

EDIT

https://www.nationalparkstraveler.org/2020/02/traveler-special-report-climate-change-glen-canyon-nra

[Wellstone ruled]

1. So many decades of Ignorance

on the part of our Political Establishment has created this scenerio. Lived in the South west for twenty years and each year our rain fall has diminished every so slightly that the Populace has not paid attention. Now,all hell is breaking loose. BTW,here in Vegas,we are setting a new record each day being without a measurable Rain event. Notice it is now called event,use to be called Rain Fall.

Two Massive High Pressure Dooms are controlling our Rain Fall. One anchored south of Denver and the Other about five hundred plus miles due west of San Francisco,the late being almost two thousand miles in Pressure Coverage. So,until we see a El Nino` return in mid to late December,we will not see Rain until February or March. Each day setting a lack of Rainfall record.

[hatrack]

2. Monsoon failure also seems to be an ongoing issue

Maybe more in Arizona than in other Sunbelt states, but I need to read up on the topic more than I have.

[Wellstone ruled]

4. Interesting side bar.

Las Vegas weather records only are only available post 1934. Assume other Records my exist or were kept by the Railroad or some other entity.

Do know,Death Valley has had more Rain Fall than the Vegas Valley last year as well as the previous year. Yuma Arizona is known as the Driest US City followed by Indian Springs Nevada,which is fifty miles up the road.

Do know that one of our Gold Club Claims had a running creek in the late Nineties and we do have water maybe for a few days during snow melt. And the main reason for this Creek Drying up was the Irrigation Pivots some ten miles due west of the Claim. But,you know,got to grow Alfalfa for those thousand Dairy Cows .

Same is happening in Southern and South Western Utah. Wells have had water drops documented more than a hundred feet. Once again,irrigation for Alfalfa that is shipped to Japan or China.

[SamKnause]

3. Thanks again for the videos.