... before nature does it for us 6

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1. 

   mspelto Posted 10:55 am
   19 Apr 2007

   Run of riverThis would beyond a doubt add water to the system, with those evaporative losses.  The timing of this addition would be the problem, more water in the spring, less in summer and fall.  Evaluating hydro projects for FERC I occassionally see a run of river project which extracts water from the stream, when flow is large enough to handle the loss,  pipe it for some distance until the river valley has dropped then, have it descend on the turbines like usual, without needing the dam.  Instead of backing up the river with a reservoir to raise it, you just take the water from further upstream and pipe it to your destination, even if it for drinking.  This does not seem like a good idea here, but has merit in places
   
   mspelto

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2. 

   Erik Hoffner Posted 11:59 pm
   19 Apr 2007

   groundwaterOne of the good ideas Living Rivers proposes is taking water out of the river when it's high and pumping it into the water tables of surrounding communities, where it will move slowly and remain available when the river is low and water is needed. It'd work. No dam needed.
   
   The Orion Grassroots Network: 1000+ grassroots groups working for conservation & more
   
   

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3. 

   gmunger Posted 2:11 am
   20 Apr 2007

   What about the demand side?Seems like there's scant discussion of the impacts of increasing demand for water in the Southwest due to growing populations. What policy changes are needed to ensure that water is priced more realistically? Seems like this would be a good place for a dose of market reality. Have previous policies unrealistically subsidized water in this region, therefore providing perverse incentives for human development where it just doesn't make sense at the scale it's currently occurring?
   These are semi-rhetorical questions. But I was hoping some our resident resource economist types could flesh this out a bit, for us economic neophytes.

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4. 

   Erik Hoffner Posted 5:11 am
   20 Apr 2007

   PricingThe fact that the state will be able, under this latest scheme, to set the price for the water virtually guarantees that it will continue to be undervalued. The whole point of this project is to abet the development economy that serves the booming diaspora of folks who want to move to a new big home in the rural arid west.
   Under current plans, water will remain cheap regardless of supply shortages. Conservation ought to be encouraged with aggressive pricing policy.
   
   The Orion Grassroots Network: 1000+ grassroots groups working for conservation & more
   
   

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5. 

   boatergirl Posted 1:32 am
   06 Feb 2008

   lake powell water levels will riseCheck out the latest reports on the snow. From what experts are saying, Lake Powell may reap the benefits of increased snow this winter. They're forecasting that the snowmelt will raise the water levels and open Castle Rock Cut. This will be great for boaters as they'll be able to get around the lake quicker. My family has been visiting the lake for years - this is very exciting!

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6. 

   amazingdrx Posted 2:04 am
   06 Feb 2008

   Great ErikOne of my favorite ideas around water conservation and pumped hydro energy storage coincides with this plan.
   Restore wetlands upstream by shunting flood waters into them.  That would replensih aquifers and bolster river flow and hydro power production during droughts.  Instead of damming rivers, put gates in the side of rivers to regulate water flow in and out of wetlands.
   River run power generation doesn't need dams or pipelines either, generation devices along already developed areas can do the job.  In a distributed fashion that does not effect wildlife or river navigation.
   Another aspect of this plan is to use wind powered pumps to move water back upstream into wetlands, storing hydro power for backing up the grid.  But where is the water to come from with ever worsening drought and ever increasing demand for irrigation and water for cities?
   Water recycling using biogas generating waste recycling, drip irrigation, composting toilets, air pressure/water spray washing of clothes, dishes, humans...  it all adds up to a water solution.
   The last piece of the water puzzle.  Ocean water desalinization employing floating offshore wind/wave/ocean current power stations.
   
   http://amazngdrx.blogharbor.com/blog

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