In spite of historical droughts plaguing the American Southwest, record-setting snow and rain in the Colorado Rocky Mountains in the spring of 2011 has water levels at Lake Powell at their highest level in ten years.
Lake Powell is an immense, deep blue lake framed by colorful red rock desert sandstone walls that crosses over the border between Utah and Arizona. It is named for Major John Wesley Powell, who charted the area between 1869 and 1872. It is considered a sanctuary for boaters of all kinds. However, according to Account Executive Lauren Pearce, visitors come to Lake Powell for many activities.
"The lake offers excellent fishing, and great open water for water skiing and wake boarding, back canyons to explore by motorboat or kayak and endless shoreline to beach a houseboat," Pearce said.
With its deep, azure waters reflecting the clear Southwestern skies and surrounding rock formations in various sunset shades of red and orange, it seems as if Lake Powell was created by nature just for houseboats, but Lake Powell is actually a man-made lake formed through the construction of the Glen Canyon Dam. In fact, it is the second largest man-made lake in the United States.
History of Lake Powell
In the late 1940s, plans were made for a series of dams on the Colorado River, but the location of the dams was controversial. The Glen Canyon Dam, which formed Lake Powell, was supposed to be in Echo Park, in what is now Dinosaur National Park in Colorado, but members of the Sierra Club objected. They did not want the natural beauty of that area submerged beneath the lake. Of course, as soon as Lake Powell was filled, they realized the Glen Canyon was equally beautiful and that it also has a valuable history. Many prehistoric Indian tribes lived in the Glen Canyon area, as well as explorers, miners, and homesteaders that were often washed out of their ranches by flash floods.
According to the Lake Powell Resorts & Marinas website, on October 20, 1956, President Dwight D. Eisenhower pressed a button from the White House that detonated the first powder charge to begin construction on the Glen Canyon Dam. In 1959, a bridge was completed, which allowed trucks to deliver materials for the Glen Canyon Dam and for the creation of a new town: Page, Arizona.
In June of 1960, workers started 24 hours concrete placement on the dam and the last bucket was poured in September of 1963 for a total of 5 million cubic yards of concrete. Construction of the Glen Canyon Dam cost $155 million, and the lives of 18 workers.
On March 13, 1963, Glen Canyon Dam's two diversion tunnels were closed to begin the lengthy process of filling Lake Powell. Construction was surprisingly fast compared to the length of time required to fill the lake--17 years! Lake Powell did not reach "full pool," or 3700' above sea level, until June 20, 1980. At that point, the lake became the perfect destination for houseboat vacationers.
Opportunities for Boating on Lake Powell
Wahweap, outside of Page, Arizona, is the largest of the three Lake Powell marinas. There is also Bullfrog Marina and Halls Crossing Marina, which is in Utah.
"All of the marinas offer launch ramps, overnight buoy rentals, mechanic services, pump out, fuel and other services for boat owners," Lauren Pearce said. "Wahweap and Bullfrog offer boat and toy rentals and Wahweap has a retail store with anything a boater may have forgotten."
The Lake Powell Resorts & Marinas website has information on mooring rates, boat rentals, current lake levels and boating safety. Boating rules for Arizona and Utah may vary, so check the website carefully.
Sources:
- "Glen Canyon." National Park Service. U.S. Department of the Interior. Retrieved September 25, 2011.
- "Glen Canyon History." Lake Powell Resorts & Marinas. Retrieved September 25, 2011.
Darla Sue Dollman - Darla Sue Dollman, BA, MFA, has expertise in classic films, the Old West, boating, and animals.
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