~ Planet earth is approximately 71 percent water-covered. We have droughts, water shortage and forced water rationing for farms. ~•~ " Humans are too stupid for their own good . "
That is almost all caused by overpopulation. And has nothing to do with precipitation. And of all that water, only 0.5% is fresh water.
What part of that 71% is useful for farming? Since we're all too stupid, do you have suggestions concerning how the US "bread basket" region can get more water in a reliable manner?
Why do you think that increasing salinity is the goal? So what? You previously stated: So restoring evaporative balance, according to you, only requires 0.1 million acre feet per year. The Edmonston Pumping Plant that pushes the CA aquaduct over the Tehachapis' is capable of moving 24,148,760 acre feet/yr that's 240 times what you claim is necessary to restore evaporative balance to the Great Salt Lake. And pumping stations may not even be the best method, but, clearly it's feasible. And interestingly you moved off your first claim that this would destroy the downstream Snake river and have retreated to a feasibility argument. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmonston_Pumping_Plant Fake news, adding fresh water will reduce salinity. Secondly that's not the goal here, rather as the lake continues out of balance it's exposing dirt flats full of of heavy metals that are carried by wind storms all over the populated areas of the valley offering a rather significant health hazard to all the people and the wild life.
The reason the water level went down is that there wasn't inflow. I don't see a point that you are trying to make here. It looks like you are striving hard to disagree with something.
Who cares? The dropping water levels pose a serious health hazards and adding water mitigates it. Try reading the thread. It's clear enough for you to follow with a reasonable exertion of effort.
This isn't true in the long run. There is some amount of salt and mineral in fresh water sources. A lake with no outlet will concentrate the salt and mineral that is in that fresh water. That's how the lake got salty. There really isn't any way to change the salinity of Great Salt Lake in a meaningful way. One would have to create an outlet, create a major source of fresh water coming in, and then wait for a LONG time. If you DID find a way to create an outlet, those downstream would be strenuously opposed, obviously.
The reason for the lowering water level is that the sources of water were reduced substantially. I really doubt you are going to find the money and get permission to pump someone else's water into Salt Lake during a drought. Whether or not climate change was involved, the problem is that there was a drought. Climatologists say that the region will continue to warm, likely bringing more frequent droughts. Yes, the whole Great Salt Lake basin is in danger of the toxic lake bed.
You stated that adding water would reduce salinity. I didn't take that as some overarching objective - just noted that it isn't really true.
That is not the goal, but that would be the result. OK, let me break it down "Barney Style:. Then you might understand. You fill a gallon bucket with ocean water, boil it until half of it evaporates. Then you refill it with more ocean water. Boil, repeat, boil, repeat. Each time you add more water, and boil it, you are essentially recreating the natural effect that is happening in the Salt Lake. Just at a faster pace. The water naturally brings in minerals and salts, and because they can not evaporate they condense into particulates that remain in the lake as the water evaporates. This over time is why it is increasing in salinity. Increase the water going in without an outlet, then you are simply giving it more mineral laden water to evaporate, adding in even more minerals and salts. The lake is not dying because of low water levels, it is dying because each year more and more salts and minerals are being deposited into the lake. Increasing the salinity. And as the salinity is increasing, the animals are dying. In order to measurably decrease the salinity, you would need to increase it back to the levels it occupied as Lake Bonneville. And even then it was incredibly salty, we know this for a fact because as it dried, it left behind the five foot thick deposits now known as the "Bonneville Salt Flats". This is not ":fake news", this is actual science. Just because you do not like something, that does not mean it is fake. But please, explain how increasing water inflow will not result in the long run of adding even more salinity to a lake in a basin that has no natural outflow.
Great explanation! I think Zorro is looking for a quick fix to the problem that exposure of the bed of the receding lake along with natural wind is adding serious toxins to the air in the Salt Lake basin. Water of any type might raise the lake enough to prevent wind from spreading the toxins of the lake bed. The area is prone to winter atmospheric inversions that trap emissions, so I can imagine people being concerned about the arsenic and other nasty stuff that is in the lake bed.
Yes. And the Snake River is only 60 miles away. If the States involved can work out a solution, good on both of them.
That's not the goal. The goal is returning evaporative balance and adding enough water to the lake to cover the toxic mud flats.
I've seen a 60 mile gravity canal proposed, and also this 72 mile pipeline. It looks pretty flat, I'm not sure what @Mushroom was referring to with his comments of this having similar challenges to the Tehachapi mountains. https://wswrp.com/snake-river-pipeline/
What, do you really think the lake is dying because of not enough water? It is dying because of the salinity level. I am not sidetracked, I actually know what the problem is. You on the other hand do not have a clue.
I agree that this is a serious and probably worsening problem for the GSL basin. But, Idaho, Oregon and Washington are using that water in regional agriculture. They have droughts, too. Those managing the Snake River have lowered reservoirs to essentially zero.
The lowering lake level is exposing toxic lake bed area. When that dries, the toxic lake bed gets blown around the basin, risking the human population. That's happening due to drought.
Well, not really zero. This information is from Nov before the heavy rain and snowfall of Dec/Jan/ and continuing into Feb 'Reservoirs in the upper Snake River, which hold more than 4.1 MAF of water, are currently 43 percent of average, reservoirs in the lower Snake River system, which hold almost 1.8 MAF, are about 56 percent of average.' I expect that when they take their next reading that a great deal of ground will have been made up. They are having nice wet winter. But ultimately we're likely going to need some water projects from Canada down to our River and Water project system. I was very unhappy when Balloon Biden stuck his thumb in Canada's eye by shutting down XL Keystone, a pipeline that served both our needs and would be very helpful to Canada, which would have set the table for greater cooperation when clearly we stand to benefit immensely from Canadian to US water projects, but, Classified Joe is a noted idiot and a short-timer, so it's not surprising that he made a complete fool of himself. Hopefully the next person in his shoes will begin to set the table for greatly expanding our infrastructure cooperation with Canada.
Fake News. We're discussing the current imbalance that is lower lake levels and exposed mudflats with heavy metal accumulations that are then caught up in windstorms and blown all over the human and wildlife populations to the great detriment of their health. Stabilizing water levels will stop the problem from getting worse, raising water levels will reduce the severity of this problem with every increment of improvement.
Yes, my article was from last May. And, the point is that when there are droughts, Idaho, Oregon and Washington feel those droughts, too. So, I'm pretty confident that having Utah attempt to take their water in times of droughts isn't going to work. That's especially true, as the increasing instances of drought and broad regions of water shortage aren't likely to allow for promises of nice fresh water to be poured into Salt Lake.
Very clearly put - and a serious problem. The very idea of the population center of Utah possibly becoming unlivable at some future time is just plain shocking. It is more evidence of how vulnerable we are to climate anomalies.
Well one problem with pretending that this is just Salt Lake's problem is that the Snake River and the Salt Lake Aquifer appear to be hydraulically connected with the Snake River Aquifer dropping at the same rate and level with the Salt Lake Aquifer. Sometimes helping your neighbor helps yourself.
