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Someone posted:
"Jordan river is running pretty high for this time of year, so all the rain and snow is having a positive effect !!!"
Can anyone explain why water is being let out of Utah Lake this time of year? It can't be for irrigation. Isn't it just wasting it into the Great Salt Lake? Just wondering.
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The older I get the more I would rather be considered a good man than a good fisherman.
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If I were to make a guess, it is because, with all of the snow that we have gotten, that their forecasted runoff will be too much to possibly avoid flooding if they don't start letting some go down the river now.
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While Utah lake is huge, at this time I think it’s only about 3.7 feet below “compromise” which is the full pool level.
Given that the lakes’s drainage area is something over 3,800 sq miles and that area is currently well in excess of average snow/ water, and coupled with the fact that there is still a fair amount of spring water expected with respective snowmelt, I’m pretty sure that releasing water now to the GSL isn’t “wasted” but prudent to alleviate potential flooding.
I’m also aware that many of the pricey duck clubs on the GSL have very senior water rights, and maybe delivering that water while it’s available is part of the plan.
Just my 2 cent thoughts.
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"Wasting water to the GSL"!
My ducks need some water too.....
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What part of the jordan? The flows vary quite a bit in different areas. I was there today around murray and flows weren't too high. Also the water is really clear, and usually it dirties up when they start releasing the water from Utah Lake, so i doubt they are releasing too much right now.
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To help the Cottonwood Canyon ski resorts. Lower GSL less lake effect snow making it up the canyons.
And the waterfowl needs water too.
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Bryce Lowder
I do what the voices in my wife's head tell me to.
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Flow seemed typical for this time of year near lehi and SS area, a few days ago.
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Looks like I might have let a rumor fester into a fact. I appreciate everyone for helping clarify things for me. I was way underinformed. [:/] I was just totally ignorant of the ecology of the GSL and was thinking of it as just a dead pool of salinity, supporting nothing but brine shrimp. I see why the word "waste" touched a nerve and I apologize for my ignorance. Peace
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The older I get the more I would rather be considered a good man than a good fisherman.
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Tis amazing the power of the GSL water users, they didn't even mention the brine shrimp industry and mineral companies that rely on water in the lake... They are getting very forceful lately on getting their water, we deal with it from the Bear River end of things as well and I think we were like you assuming the water is wasted once it hits the salt, but we have been learning a lot about the GSL water users lately... I was totally blown away with the ski industry and the lake effect snow being a big factor in why they keep sending water to the lake... Might be why they have as much political power as they seem to have behind them... But yes they aren't going to let it run dry, in fact they have a big argument about that creating terrible weather effects and dust storms... Soooo it is very likely they will get their water when they can and they probably don't care too much about our catfish... Kind of bad news for our wants, but I guess that is what we are up against... Later J
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The crazy amount of snowpack right now and the warmup next week is going to mean a lot of water going into Jordanelle and Deer Creek. No doubt they'll need the space in Utah Lake.
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At least we don't have to blame California like we do in the Colorado River drainage. With this great water year do you think we'll fill Lake Powell [
]? I just hope we max out Jordanelle and Deer Creek this year along with Utah Lake. And don't think I'm so narrow-minded as to be thinking only about fish and fishing. We have seen unprecedented population growth lately and I often wonder how we will have enough water for everybody who wants to live here. Maybe we will end up building that dam up Diamond Fork after all.
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Bet we won’t ever see Lake Powell full again.
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I'm afraid you're right, we aren't in good ole Utah any more, getting to be too many newbs that are changing the way things have been and not sure I like all the changes that come with increasing population growth... But I don't think anyone cares what I think.... so guess I'll just have to get used to changes... Later J
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You are not seeing water being let out of Ut. Lake. The "flow" in the Jordan is due mainly to snow melt and springs along the river it's self. If you go to the north end of the lake and check the gates, they are down. The supposed "high" flow is mainly springs along the river plus the snow melt. There is no current down stream use for water and the GSL users want to store all they can. The gates and pumps may be activated later in March, but not right now. I drive over the Jordan at West Main in Lehi almost every day and the flow there varies quite a bit with the weather. Best indicator is to look at the level of the lake at say AF Harbor, State Park, Lincoln Beach, etc. You will see that the level is coming up right now !!
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We need to hand out condoms like no tomorrow and encourage humans to stop breeding so profusely.
I would like to see a persons tax burden increase exponentially to the amount of offspring one produces.
The Human Race will bring the end to the human race.
Sounds dismal I know, but population growth cannot go on un-checked if you expect our way of living to stay the same.
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Thank you for educating me. I know that the lake is rising as I check the level fairly often. I just hope we get it full enough to meet the downstream needs without draining it so much that boats can't even launch at Lincoln Beach late in the year.
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The older I get the more I would rather be considered a good man than a good fisherman.
