Lake Powell and the Colorado River Delta

* “Delta a Snag in Babbitt’s Plan for Colorado River” (Dec. 26) described the devastation that lack of flow in the Colorado River has brought to its once verdant delta in Mexico. The two-decade period when Glen Canyon Dam created Lake Powell--1963 to 1983--was the period when no water reached the delta and it was destroyed. Hence, Glen Canyon Dam simultaneously inundated one of the great canyons of the world and destroyed a huge and productive wetlands area. Since then, a trickle of water has reached the delta and restored some modest pockets of wetlands.

Lake Powell also causes a loss of about 5% of the annual flow of the Colorado River through evaporation and seepage. This lost water would be more than enough to rehabilitate the delta to a productive level. Moreover, this lost water is worth more than the value of the electricity generated by Glen Canyon Dam. The dam also has had a very detrimental effect on the ecology of the Grand Canyon, which is immediately downstream.

Many organizations advocate the gradual draining of Lake Powell and the decommissioning of Glen Canyon Dam. The main opponents are power boaters who use Lake Powell and support the economies of Page, Ariz., and Hite, Utah. However, if the dam is justified by its economic impact in Arizona and Utah, then I believe the water lost by Lake Powell should count against the allotments of Colorado River water to these states, just as if the water was used for irrigation or industrial usage.

M.L. RUDEE PhD, PE

Founding Dean, Jacobs School

of Engineering, UC San Diego