Friday, January 31, 2014

LINES--FRIDAY MY TOWN SHOOTOUT

LINES...
I wonder if we realize how much lines affect our lives.  We follow lines, reach the end of the line, avoid crossing the line, line-up, go to the end of the line, avoid crossing  the yellow line and keep within the lines. 

I perhaps could have been a little more creative with this week's prompt except for the fact that my laptop died last week and I have spent hours and hours (under-LINED, please note) setting up Windows 8 and Microsoft 10 on my new one.  Why do these people have to keep 'improving' their products?!!!  Windows 8 is a pain!!!

Now that I can at least find my photos and they are in some semblance of order I can actually meet the dead-LINE for FMTSO -- this, after five or six hours a day for a week!  UGH!

So my first  LINE photo is to show the importance of lines up at Lake Powell, which is so large that it actually spans two states -- Utah and Arizona.  Even so it dramatically impacts Southern California where I live.  I took these photos a year ago and things are no better today, probably worse. 



These photos illustrate the problem. It is the low water level in Lake Powell, a major water reservoir on the Colorado River.  It is about 12 feet below what it should be.  This affects my town because much of our water comes from the Colorado River which snakes its way down through the Grand Canyon and down to Yuma, Arizona.  The water from the Colorado is then piped across the desert to feed the San Diego area.  Our area is geographically a desert area with a rainfall of ten inches or less per year.  I think it is now the third year in a row since we have had drought conditions.  Fortunately, we also are fed by the rain and snowfalls from the mountains that is piped down to us from the Los Angeles area.  Even so the whole of the west coast is now considered to be in drought conditions.

This third photo is a bonus.  Not only can you see the water level deficit, but some wonderful erosion 
lines that make this whole area so spectacular.  If you're visiting the West, Lake Powell is a 'must see'.

This is my contribution to Friday, My Town Shoot-out. We have a good group of photographers who always produce something interesting, so why not pop over to this LINK and perhaps even think of joining us.  




14 comments:

snafu said...

We could lend you some rain, trouble is getting to you. All that water must have gone somewhere and it seems to be here. We have only had occasional days every now and then when it does not rain since November. We drove by the lake on our last trip two years ago and it was low then.
I understand that most Native American civilisations had an abrupt decline about 800 years ago when a serious drought dried up most of the continent. I hope Congress is taking steps to ensure it cannot happen again.

jabblog said...

You have too little rain, we have too much. Extraordinary photos - what a huge reservoir.

MadSnapper said...

I love your first paragraph, had not thought about all the lines we have each day and that last photo is spectacular...

Unknown said...

Chris I know what you mean about Windows 8. New computer sitting up for 3 months and as long as my old one hangs on I am staying away from 8. Working a little at a time on it. That last photo is amazing. They are all good. Just good narrative about your area.

LOLfromPasa said...

How frightening. The photos are lovely but the message is very sad. Hope you have some decent rain soon.

Jama said...

I love that last photo, the lines make it so beautiful!

claude said...

Hi Chris
Very interesting post with beautiful photos.
I saw Lake Powell in south of Utah.

aspiritofsimplicity said...

great sediment lines. I agree, windows 8 is awful!

DawnTreader said...

Very impressive scenery although I can see that seeing those lines must be rather worrying too.

The Artful Diva said...

all I know is the line I'm waiting in (grocery store, bank, etc.) is always the longest!

~JarieLyn~ said...

I've been to Lake Powell once a few years ago and we did the lake cruise. It was spectacular. Great shots showing where the water level should be. We too, have the same problem with the water level at Lake Mead. It's so sad.

Pauline said...

I always hate to see nature's signs of drought, but these are extremely beautiful. I especially like the last one.

GingerV said...

I agree with all above. I should always write my comment before reading the others, cause I can't ever think of more to say. Having come from Arizona these lines are familiar. love the last photo. have a great week GingerV

Dartford Warbler said...

I think your rain turned around and came across the Atlantic this winter!

I hope that the drought soon ends for you. The photographs are stunning and a reminder of how much we humans are at the mercy of nature.