09/19 - 10/01 - Lake Powell 2015

Water Bill · Posted: Thu Aug 27, 2015 9:42 pm Post subject:

Here are some highlights from the latest news release I could find from the Utah Department of Environmental Quality dated August 19th, concerning the Gold King Mine spill.

Water test results suggest that the plume from the spill presents little health risk to users as it has been settled and diluted while making its way to Lake Powell. No fish kills have been documented along the San Juan River or Lake Powell.

I don't think we need to worry about boating or swimming in Lake Powell. Activities on the Animas River here in Durango seem to back to normal.

Here is a link to the news release if anyone is interested in reading all of it.

http://www.deq.utah.gov/Topics/Water/goldkingmine/docs/2015/08Aug/goldminefinal.pdf

Bill

hardee · Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2015 2:12 am Post subject:

thataway · Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2015 11:32 am Post subject:

The public health statement is cover your six. So far no one seems concerned about the contaminate--we are still going up the San Juan Arm.
Delayed launch one day, because of my back (I still do dumb things when loading boats).

Water looked clearer yesterday.

Since you are near the canyons, there is often 90's daytime temp, but on the lake center the temps are usually in the 80's. With a shelter/shade (we brought the large "Noah's Tarp" this year, and breeze it is comfortable. We worked on the boat almost all day yesterday. Very dry humidity. Nights are comfortable. Later in Sept, the nights can be cooler, and we are taking one set of warmer PJ's--jackets, just in case.

Dry ice is available at WalMart, large Freezer in S E corner near NE entrance.

Safeway (N. Lake Powell BLvd, next strip mall S from "The Dam Inn eatery" had a better selection of food, and only slightly more costly, if at all.

Wandering Sagebrush · Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2015 11:42 am Post subject:

Bob, any chance they had real ice and not slush?

Sunbeam · Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2015 2:16 pm Post subject:

Interesting about the "slush" ice. I've bought a fair bit of ice on the lake (mostly at Dangling Rope, but also at Hall's, Bullfrog, and Wahweap) and it's never been slush. It's either cubes, or "fake blocks" (cubes/chips pressed into a block). I lament the almost complete disappearance of real block ice in the USA, but the stuff at Powell has always been really cold, even if the form factor wasn't exactly what I would have chosen (fake blocks).

Maybe I've just been lucky?

Wandering Sagebrush · Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2015 2:43 pm Post subject:

thataway

We don't seem to have a 'Sign up" sheet, I know of about half a dozen boats coming for sure. Why don't we all get some idea of how many will be at the gathering. I'll probably be at Oak Canyon a few days before, and attempt to find a good place. There are several arms at Oak, so if you don't see us in one, keep looking and give a shout on Channel 16. (I monitor `16 and 68).

We will probably only have spotty if any internet from now on.

Steve, I didn't look at the ice block section--but in the past and other places where I have looked in town, have "Reddy Ice"--claims to be the largest ice maker in the US. It is the same stuff you get at Dangling Rope.
Sunbeam, these are reefer containers on the barges at Dangling Rope--and they can be subject to many factors--but I would only expect the value of the ice to be the caloric value as it melts--very little value if the ice is at 22 or 31 degrees. By the time you get it back to your boat, it is already "sweating"!

I turned on the "damaged" WAECO, which we are gong to use as a freezer, when I started the unit, it was 87.5 degrees inside. We went to the grocery store, and got fishing licenses--about 2 hours. The temperature was 15.7 (digital lab thermometer), and the LCD reading was 16 degrees. Cannot ask for better than that!

I put 6 gallons of gas for the generator aboard, and we will see how long that lasts with the two chests running….The challenge, is getting all Marie has planed into those two chests! (We have a 22 cu foot frige/freezer in the RV--so 3.5 cubic is really going to be a challenge!

Wandering Sagebrush · Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2015 7:18 pm Post subject:

Bob,

Since Lake Powell is the last on the tour, I just used the Grand Slam signup sheet, even though we will only be able to catch Powell.

Sounds like the damaged freezer is doing just fine...

Steve

Lost Petrel · Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2015 7:21 pm Post subject:

Wild Blue is planning on being there for the get together, launching from Wahweap around the 13th.

Tim

Sunbeam · Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2015 7:39 pm Post subject:

Okay, I see what you mean by "slush ice," and yep, that's what I've gotten too. Very white and aerated, not to mention the maddening "fake blocks." I had thought you meant it was slushy.

Makes me long for the ice plants in the tropics. Big buildings full of nothing but a huge, clear block of ice, which they would saw to whatever size you wanted. Now that stuff lasted!

Wandering Sagebrush · Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2015 8:21 pm Post subject:

TyBoo · Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2015 10:46 pm Post subject:

Sunbeam · Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2015 10:54 pm Post subject:

Thanks, Tyboo!

For the Powell Gathering, I would say something like September 18-26. The main potluck is Saturday night, September 19, and oftentimes people put in on the 18th to get there. Then it usually runs about a week (although many folks come earlier and stay later). But at least that gives an idea of the main week.

Wandering Sagebrush · Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2015 10:56 pm Post subject:

Wandering Sagebrush · Posted: Fri Sep 04, 2015 6:03 pm Post subject: Look out below...

There's a rock below Glen Canyon dam that is a bit worrisome.

http://news.yahoo.com/rock-threatening-crash-down-arizona-dam-155853245.html