The Official Drought Thread

[Bo Diddley]

Nowhere near last year's pace, but significant improvement over the last 6 weeks:

This current batch of storms should put us well over the 10-year average and potentially above 2019 pace, which was a good year.

Yeah, I'm very happy with where we stand this year. Wouldn't it be great to find out years down the road that this is the new norm? Yeah, not likely, but it's good to have the ball bounce our way a couple years in a row.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Nowhere near last year's pace, but significant improvement over the last 6 weeks:

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This current batch of storms should put us well over the 10-year average and potentially above 2019 pace, which was a good year.

Utah is around 110-120% in every basin in the state. We are doing better than all of our surrounding states for some reason.

[BigFatMeanie]

Utah is around 110-120% in every basin in the state. We are doing better than all of our surrounding states for some reason.

My prayers must be working.

[Omaha 680]

Lake Powell up over 25 feet and still rising. Looks like we will slightly exceed the high water elevation from last year. I was wondering if it would only be on the order of a 10 foot bump when the final snowpack was known. It was above average but nowhere near the previous year. It helps Powell this year that GC dam releases during runoff have been about 1/2 what they were during the 2023 runoff.

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[Omaha 680]

I'm still a relative noob at Powell. Being I started going in 2021 I have never used the cut. We will be down there this week for two days starting tomorrow. Water data shows the lake elevation today at 3582.71, which is about 3 inches below the NPS minimum safe elevation. It is 2.71' above the "absolute minimum" reported on the water data sites.

For those experts here, what is the elevation below which you won't attempt to use the cut? Houseboat trip didn't work out this year so we will just be in a 26' bow rider.

[Shaka]

I'm still a relative noob at Powell. Being I started going in 2021 I have never used the cut. We will be down there this week for two days starting tomorrow. Water data shows the lake elevation today at 3582.71, which is about 3 inches below the NPS minimum safe elevation. It is 2.71' above the "absolute minimum" reported on the water data sites.

For those experts here, what is the elevation below which you won't attempt to use the cut? Houseboat trip didn't work out this year so we will just be in a 26' bow rider.

I wouldn't take a houseboat or any other stern drive boat where you can't raise the engine and still navigate. Inboards, including v-drive wake boats, will probably be able to get through for another week or so.

[falafel]

I'm still a relative noob at Powell. Being I started going in 2021 I have never used the cut. We will be down there this week for two days starting tomorrow. Water data shows the lake elevation today at 3582.71, which is about 3 inches below the NPS minimum safe elevation. It is 2.71' above the "absolute minimum" reported on the water data sites.

For those experts here, what is the elevation below which you won't attempt to use the cut? Houseboat trip didn't work out this year so we will just be in a 26' bow rider.

Wait, the water level in the cut is 2.7'? I'm not using the cut in those conditions, especially if its windy or a number of other boats are in the cut. Is the channel out of the question? I know its not ideal.

I'm jealous, I sold my boat this year and the last few years we were at Powell the water was too low to use the cut. It was really hard getting to the rest of the lake with everyone sloshing through the channel.

[Omaha 680]

Wait, the water level in the cut is 2.7'? I'm not using the cut in those conditions, especially if its windy or a number of other boats are in the cut. Is the channel out of the question? I know its not ideal.

I'm jealous, I sold my boat this year and the last few years we were at Powell the water was too low to use the cut. It was really hard getting to the rest of the lake with everyone sloshing through the channel.

Like I said I'm still very much a noob but the channel ain't it. I was very excited to potentially use the cut this year. The lake is currently 2.7' above what the water data sites say is the absolute minimum water elevation to use the cut. But I have not idea what that translates to as far as actual minimum water depth. From what Shaka says it sounds like I should be ok with the relatively small boat we are using this time. I'll trim up and go slow.

I'll ask others when I get down there. Channel is not out of the question but obviously not preferred especially since we will be doing two days but coming back to Wahweap to dock overnight.

[fusnik]

We used the cut a couple weeks ago, it got super dicey and we walked the boats for a bit.

The channel sucks but if you have to do it I prefer to pay the Navajo nation to use their ramp, get there insanely early and the water isn’t horrible. If you are there by 630 you’ll be one of the first on the water as they start working around 645ish depending on the line. We usually head back mid afternoon before the late afternoon rush and it’s not too horrible.

$50 to have someone launch you and catch you is a steal especially considering how awful Wahweap and Stateline can get with waves and lines.

We do Powell 2-3 times a year and have settled on a Thurs-Sunday routine.

We will launch Thursday afternoon direct from the commute depending on the weather and surf/swim for 3-4 hours.

Next day is usually a big exploration day, tons of commute time in the water.

Saturday is a medium exploration day.

Sunday depending on the crew is a morning surf sesh or early golf.

We always stay in Page, eat really great food, shower in hot shower and go bowling/catch a movie.

Obviously nothing beats a week on the lake in a houseboat, but if I’m not staying in a friend of ours multi million dollar houseboat with ample AC it’s not worth the squeeze.

[BigFatMeanie]

According to the Lake Powell Resort and Marinas site, the Cut is currently closed:

https://www.lakepowell.com/plan/current-weather/

Castle Rock Cut: Closed


What is "the cut"? Castle Rock Cut (a.k.a, "the cut") is a lake shortcut between Wahweap Bay and the main channel of Lake Powell. Depending on water levels, the cut can either be open or closed.

[Omaha 680]

We used the cut a couple weeks ago, it got super dicey and we walked the boats for a bit.

The channel sucks but if you have to do it I prefer to pay the Navajo nation to use their ramp, get there insanely early and the water isn’t horrible. If you are there by 630 you’ll be one of the first on the water as they start working around 645idjndependinf on the line. We usually head back mid afternoon before the late afternoon rush back and it’s not too horrible.

$50 to have someone launch you and catch you is a steal especially considering how awful Wahweap and Stateline can get with waves and lines.

Totally agree. When we did the houseboat last year we rented from Antelope Point and paid their valet to launch our boat and toys because I didn't want to deal with the entire channel or with the ramps at Wahweap. Got there early like you said. Was first in line and was absolutely worth it to get up early.

That's not an option this year due to the scaled back trip and the place we are renting from delivering only to Wahweap. We paid them for launch and retrieval so hopefully it's not nearly as stressful as doing it myself. Still hoping I can get through the cut but your anecdote makes me second guess myself.

[Omaha 680]

According to the Lake Powell Resort and Marinas site, the Cut is currently closed:

https://www.lakepowell.com/plan/current-weather/

NPS says "Navigate at your own risk". They reference the 3583 elevation I noted above as safe for all vessels.

Changing Lake Levels - Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)

[fusnik]

Totally agree. When we did the houseboat last year we rented from Antelope Point and paid their valet to launch our boat and toys because I didn't want to deal with the entire channel or with the ramps at Wahweap. Got there early like you said. Was first in line and was absolutely worth it to get up early.

That's not an option this year due to the scaled back trip and the place we are renting from delivering only to Wahweap. We paid them for launch and retrieval so hopefully it's not nearly as stressful as doing it myself. Still hoping I can get through the cut but your anecdote makes me second guess myself.

Honestly I wouldn’t do it, when we got into the cut and my depth finder was screaming at me and people in the boat were jumping around and kids asking to skip songs and dudes in the water dragging boats, my anxiety was through the roof, not worth it.

The next day we just chilled in the bay, found a great patch of clean water and had a blast for hours. The following day we did a similar thing, drove over to AP, jumped a few cliffs, bought ice cream and merch, were off the lake by 3 went bowling and caught the sunset Horseshoe.

Not a single person complained that they were short changed, you’ll have a blast even if you don’t venture past AP.

[Omaha 680]

Honestly I wouldn’t do it, when we got into the cut and my depth finder was screaming at me and people in the boat were jumping around and kids asking to skip songs and dudes in the water dragging boats, my anxiety was through the roof, not worth it.

The next day we just chilled in the bay, found a great patch of clean water and had a blast for hours. The following day we did a similar thing, drove over to AP, jumped a few cliffs, bought ice cream and merch, were off the lake by 3 went bowling and caught the sunset Horseshoe.

Not a single person complained that they were short changed, you’ll have a blast even if you don’t venture past AP.

You were absolutely correct. It turns out the people I rented from explicitly stated the cut was off limits so me needing to decide was a moot point. But I went to take a peek because I was curious and it looked treacherous. I don't think I would have tried even if it had been my choice.

We had a couple of spectacular days on the lake. The channel was relatively calm and super empty all day Wednesday. Tuesday we went down to Lone Rock and let the kids swim for a bit. Wednesday we spent the morning at dune of spirits in Navajo Canyon and then the afternoon in Warm Creek bay swimming and tubing. We hope to get back to a houseboat excursion next year but I need to get a friend with a multimillion dollar boat.

[Pelado]

You were absolutely correct. It turns out the people I rented from explicitly stated the cut was off limits so me needing to decide was a moot point. But I went to take a peek because I was curious and it looked treacherous. I don't think I would have tried even if it had been my choice.

We had a couple of spectacular days on the lake. The channel was relatively calm and super empty all day Wednesday. Tuesday we went down to Lone Rock and let the kids swim for a bit. Wednesday we spent the morning at dune of spirits in Navajo Canyon and then the afternoon in Warm Creek bay swimming and tubing. We hope to get back to a houseboat excursion next year but I need to get a friend with a multimillion dollar boat.

Join the club.