Pearce Ferry Rapid

[amos68]

I think Lake Mead would have to rise another 20-30 feet so it could bury this rapid and channel with mud. The river would also have to cut another path closer to the original channel to the north of where the water is flowing now. The snow pack above Powell is less than 70% of average now. Maybe the recent (Dec 10-20) change in the jet stream will bring more snow to the upper Colorado River Basin. Time will tell! It sure has been interesting to watch!

[jermdog]

I just want the old rapids, seperation, lava dam, etc, cut back out of the sediment already deposited and if the lake keeps rising, that ain't happenin.

[moetown]

A 23 day trip nightfloated on Christmas Eve and the water speed above Pearce is still unaffected. 249m-280m, 11:30pm(surprise canyon) push off time-- 8am Pearce Ferry Arrival. By the time we left the air temperature was 65 degrees and climbing. The water is just starting to spread out a little on the ramp, but the current is still moving pretty good.

Right now the lake levels are 56% LM and 66% LP. Their current goal is to equalize the lakes.

[amos68]

Moetown, did you go look at PFR? If so, how did it look?

[moetown]

Amos,

Pearce Ferry is super mellow. The most exciting thing is the river is back cutting into the sandbank, so the trail walks up the sand directly over the back cut!

When the sand bank gives way it's going to be massive and of course dangerous for whoever is on it.

Looking back at the old historical data Lake Mead Water Database

Lake Meade will take awhile(50 years?) to go up enough for the river to find a new channel, if that is even possible.

I would guess for a new channel to be cut naturally the lake would have to go up to 2002 levels where we could takeout at the old Pearce Ferry Ramp High and dry now. Next years of silt would have to fill in the current river channel higher than the current silt level.

Looking at old data avg by year Lake Mead Water Database

the lake was filled to 56%(current approx level) relatively quickly from 1935 to 1940. Generally from that period(1940-2012) on the silt was be transported down and deposited from Sandy Point(300m ish) to Seperation Rapid(240mish). During that time period we artificially accelerated the silt transport by the high flows, and fluctuations associated with peak power demand. As of recently we have associated peak power with peak silt loss! It seems LTMP is trying to reduce silt loss by getting away from these fluctuations and going to a steadier flow. Constant Flows.

Taking into account that Glen Canyon Dam was finished in the early sixties, and thus silt was greatly decreased it will take longer for silt to fill in relative to past inflows. The silt inflow we now have is LCR and Pariah relatively speaking.

On that day that silt fills the current river channel and rises up enough on the south side to welcome the riverbed to point north, the channel will be able to flow to it's original point 1/4 mile away. The bass are going to love all that tammies habitat!!

[amos68]

Thanks for the picture! I would almost try that in a canoe!

[GC Guide]

Constant Flows!

That is the ticket Brady! I have often thought that the rate of reduction at the dam is to fast and drains the beaches from themselves. Historical pre dam flows rarely changed that quickly in the grand scheme.....

[amos68]

I just took these on Tuesday (1/17/2012). http://youtu.be/1lBJGjAigVQ
http://youtu.be/4HGJbokKa18 http://youtu.be/Woyi1LGDqnY

[BCJ]

Thanks for all this good info and videos. My last trip was 2005. We took out at Cove. We were surprised by a little "bump" here where PFR is now located. Had no idea what it was, but we were rigged together, 5 boats, and just cut the motor and wallowed through. We must have gone over the rocks. Peace

[amos68]

January 16, 2012