The fate of the entire Colorado River system is being redetermined in real time, amid what scientists think is the worst drought in over 1,200 years.
Drought in the West threatens future of Glen Canyon dam and Lake Powell |
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| | Under the pressures of overuse and climate change, the fate of the entire Colorado River system is being redetermined in real time, amid what scientists think is the worst drought in over 1,200 years. The Bureau of Reclamation’s most recent 2-year projections show that this year, water levels at Lake Powell could drop too low for Glen Canyon dam to generate hydropower. Some experts suggest phasing out Lake Powell entirely and storing any water left in Lake Mead. Billy Shott, the superintendent of the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, told the Lake Powell Chronicle if the reservoir went away, “we’ll have more people coming here to raft than they have in the Grand Canyon. It’ll be a different place, but people will still enjoy it. It’s just change.” | Thousands of students at East and West high schools in Salt Lake City staged walkouts earlier this month to protest the Utah Legislature’s ban on transgender girls in female high school sports. Other schools have followed, with hundreds of middle schoolers becoming the latest to stage walkouts. What impact will the protests have? Caroline Drake, a 13-year-old student who organized a walkout at Clayton Middle School on Friday, acknowledged that she can’t change policy. But Drake said she's noticed a change in attitude at her school since the protest. LGBTQ advocates say that even if protests don't have an immediate impact on policy, they send a message to transgender kids that they're not alone. "The Trevor Project’s research has found that trans and nonbinary youth who report feeling accepted and affirmed by adults and peers — as well as their school communities — report lower rates of attempting suicide," Sam Ames, director of advocacy and government affairs for The Trevor Project, said in a statement. "Beyond offering inspiration, the brave students speaking up are offering a sense of validation and support that can be lifesaving." Read more about student protests against the Legislature's transgender athletes ban. More in Politics Orrin Hatch will lie in state before his funeral services in Salt Lake City. Here’s how you can attend (Deseret News) ‘Lion of the Senate’: Sen. Mitt Romney lauds Orrin Hatch’s dedication to Utah in Senate speech (Deseret News) Opinion: I believe Sen. Lee’s words and deeds exonerate him (Deseret News) | Business ‘Textbook corporate greed’: As inflation pummels consumers, U.S. CEOs rake in cash (Deseret News) UpsideDAO wants fans to earn upside as brand ambassadors (Utah Business) Crime 'We need to do better': Utah leaders, advocates call for better support for sexual assault victims (KSL.com) Utahn with history of DUI arrested after crash that killed 13-year-old boy on bicycle (KSL.com) Police catch man accused of randomly shooting vehicles on Utah freeway last year (KSL.com) Faith Latter-day Saint leaders and LGBTQ advocates deepen their relationship on Washington D.C. Temple tour (Deseret News) Meet the German woman whose resilient refugee story weaves through the third volume of ‘Saints’ (Deseret News) Health Why health experts say COVID-19 isn’t going away (Deseret News) The U.S. is ‘out of the pandemic phase,’ Dr. Fauci says (Deseret News) New Intermountain Healthcare jet has already helped save lives (KSL.com) Northern Utah Utah's housing market is tough, but those with disabilities face additional barriers, advocates say (KSL.com) Salt Lake’s latest camp abatement on Victory Road leaves people looking for ‘stability’ (KUER) Ogden offering $1,000 for the winning design of a new official city flag (The Standard Examiner) Southern Utah Washington County eyes underground water rights, but it’s unclear if water is really there (KUER) The West 67 wild horses died in a Colorado holding pen. Why? (Deseret News) The Nation Perspective: When helping families with young children, don’t leave out stay-at-home parents (Deseret News) New Harvard report details schools’ ties to slavery. Next step? Issue reparations (Deseret News) More than 120,000 pounds of ground beef is recalled over possible E. coli concerns (NPR) The World Do Americans support admitting refugees into the country from Ukraine? Here’s what the poll says (Deseret News) Trevor Reed, a U.S. citizen detained in Russia since 2019, has been released in a prisoner swap (Deseret News) Kane Tanaka, world’s oldest person, dies at 119 (Deseret News) The death rate for children has dropped dramatically. Yet there's cause for alarm (NPR) Sports If Jazz fall flat — again — in the playoffs, what’s next for this franchise? (Deseret News) Nephi Sewell overcame neck injury, and after strong career at Utah, is ready for NFL draft (Deseret News) What are the NFL draft prospects for four-year BYU starter James Empey? (Deseret News) |
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