B-29 in Lake Mead

[Randy Haskin]

Here's something written by a Southern Nevada Water Authority official recently on a forum I am on that yields some relevant information about what Vegas and the rest of southern Nevada do with the water they're apportioned.

Las Vegas so far has removed considerable turf through a turf removal program where a portion of the water from water bill is spent on conservation efforts, like a rebate for turf removal, we had a rebate for pool covers that reduce evaporation by 90% but that may have ended due to limited participation. We're now addressing "non-functional turf" the grass in medians and corporate landscaping that is 100% ornamental, We're working on efforts to improve water efficiency in the number two consumptive use which is commercial air conditioning. I think it passed where no Colorado river water will be allowed to be used for irrigation on any new golf courses, so if builders want to make another one they'll have to buy groundwater rights which are basically locked at the current amount for the basin.

Las Vegas has also managed to stretch the water budget by employing a watering schedule that changes with the seasons, one day a week during the winter, three days a week spring and fall, and 6 days a week in the summer, no water on Sundays, that measure coupled with awareness has been huge on the conservation front, with the current situation we're also stepping up efforts to curtail water waste with mechanisms in place to alert people if their irrigation equipment is broken or spraying on the street, first few instances are purely notifications, any kind of fine comes later.

Las Vegas gets about 10% of their water from groundwater and a network of municipal wells that supply is based on perennial yield of basin which is set at the amount for natural recharge. Las Vegas also has about a year's worth of water stored in the ground, and two or three years worth of water stored in the ground in Arizona. The water banked in Las Vegas can be accessed through municipal wells that have the capacity to withdraw two or three times the current amount so we could supply 20 to 25% of Vegas's needs from wells alone, and if we decide to draw on the Arizona banked water then Arizona takes that water from the ground where it was banked and we take our portion from Lake Mead.

Las Vegas also recently finished an intake and low lake level pump station that allows Vegas access to the Colorado even if the lake reaches "Dead Pool" or the 850ft elevation where no water can get out through the dam. At that elevation the storage alone is equal to 10 years of Las Vegas's supply and Arizona and California's intakes are all downstream of the dam.

Las Vegas has also entered an agreement to partially fund a direct potable reuse plant in southern California (doesn't require blessing from the coastal coalition) the capacity we subsidized in that plant is done in exchange for a portion of California's Colorado river allocation Looks like 25-30,000 acre ft

If ti ever gets close to dead pool on Lake Mead, i'm sure at that point there will be a lot of push for re-allocation but until that time Las Vegas is on the mutherf*cker to make sure needs are met.

[p51]

Unfortunately, people don't seem to even want to perform a cursory level of inquisition, and instead want to go for low-hanging fruit and make assumptions based on what seems to make sense to them, apparently, by virtue of geography.

You'll have no argument from me, Randy!

[Ruberneck]

“We Choose Truth Over Facts” /s

[Mark Allen M]

“We Choose Truth Over Facts” /s

“We Choose Water Over A B-29”

[old iron]

I remember when I was a kid in southern Arizona, back in the 1960s. Arizona had just won - supreme court decision if I remember right - rights to a portion of the water than runs through northern Arizona. The headline in the Phoenix paper read WATER in a font-size that filled the entire front page down to the fold.

The lack of water here is going to have very serious consequences to the economies of AZ, NV and southern CA. I think it has been decades since a drop of this reached the Pacific Ocean.

[Randy Haskin]

Reservoirs do reservoir things, like fill up when supply exceeds demand and vice versa.

In a system where you have numerous reservoirs which are ensuring constant flow/supply to a varied number of users and in a system (nature) which is only somewhat predictable, you're going to have variances that look unique in a small frame of reference but look normal over a larger span.

Right now, the entire western US has been in a historical drought for decades, and Powell and Mead have been doing exactly what they were planned and constructed to do.

[quemerford]

It's a real worry: though I think we'd all love to see this iconic machine, it's difficult to find enjoyment in that aspect, given the wider picture.

[Mark Allen M]

Right now, the entire western US has been in a historical drought for decades, and Powell and Mead have been doing exactly what they were planned and constructed to do.

Yes, this is true in principle but only when water (nature) chooses to cooperate. I’d like to see more cooperation happening to be honest.

Although there’s far more important and needed usages for water here in the west, I’d be nice to see more real green grass yards than spray painted green grass yards.

[sandiego89]

.......
Although there’s far more important and needed usages for water here in the west, I’d be nice to see more real green grass yards than spray painted green grass yards.

Green grass is part of the problem, lots of it needs to go. We really don't "need" grass in front of libraries, on medians in the road and homes without kids. Go with a landscape suitable to the climate and keep the grass for true recreational areas, parks and homes where kids play.

As for the B-29 I would like to see it recovered if it were exposed, and my tune on that has changed- I had been in the camp of let it be while it was in deep water. Would sure have some provenance.

[Mark Allen M]

.......
Although there’s far more important and needed usages for water here in the west, I’d be nice to see more real green grass yards than spray painted green grass yards.

Green grass is part of the problem, lots of it needs to go. We really don't "need" grass in front of libraries, on medians in the road and homes without kids. Go with a landscape suitable to the climate and keep the grass for true recreational areas, parks and homes where kids play.

As for the B-29 I would like to see it recovered if it were exposed, and my tune on that has changed- I had been in the camp of let it be while it was in deep water. Would sure have some provenance.

The green spray paint idea was mostly for humor, although it was indeed a “substitute” at one time not too long ago during our decades long California drought for some folks. But fortunately yes, most of California has chosen a much smarter drought tolerant approach to landscaping.

[lucky52]

A question for you bomber types.If it is exposed at some time could it be jacked up and could the gear be dropped without too much trouble?

[Randy Haskin]

A question for you bomber types.If it is exposed at some time could it be jacked up and could the gear be dropped without too much trouble?

It isn't in one piece.

675953888139344008.jpg (13.45 KiB) Viewed 977 times

[airnutz]

A question for you bomber types.If it is exposed at some time could it be jacked up and could the gear be dropped without too much trouble?

It isn't in one piece.

675953888139344008.jpg

It's also covered with a dense coating of a few tons of quagga mussels...get yer pressure washers ready.
There's also a PBY currently at about 100' depth off of Boulder Basin Beach...tho when it landing with its gear down, it flipped, split in two, and burned. Then there's the BT-13 in 194?, out of gas, that set down in the deep near Hoover Dam....and no tellin' what else...

[Chris Brame]

Then there's the BT-13 in 194?, out of gas, that set down in the deep near Hoover Dam....and no tellin' what else...

BT-13 40-841, on August 11, 1940; sadly this was a fatal:

[menards]

A question for you bomber types.If it is exposed at some time could it be jacked up and could the gear be dropped without too much trouble?

It isn't in one piece.

675953888139344008.jpg

I feel like a diorama type display similar to what was done with the lake murray B-25 would be appropriate for the B-29.