# Lake Mead, Lake Powell. Which one?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lake-mead-lake-powell-which-one/966800>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [June 25, 2022, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lake-mead-lake-powell-which-one/966800 "2022-06-25T01:50:55Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![ASGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/838e76/32.png) [@ASGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASGuy)\
**Post date:** [June 28, 2022, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lake-mead-lake-powell-which-one/966800/21 "2022-06-28T01:49:37Z")

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> [@LSLGuy](#):
>
> And agree of course with the overall consensus that the lake draining sequence is simply rearranging deck chairs on the _Titanic_. If we desire to stay afloat, we shut down CA & AZ extractive agriculture. They either dry-land farm or go fallow forever.
> 
> And even after that we need to start ratioing the right to move into the area. The total population of the water-deprived areas must be managed.

I agree with both of these as well. The sooner the water agencies start restricting agricultural uses the better. But it will be a tough road. In the meantime, Lake Powell must die.

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**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\
**Post date:** [June 28, 2022, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lake-mead-lake-powell-which-one/966800/22 "2022-06-28T01:58:20Z")

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> [@What\_Exit](#):
>
> Stop water intensive farming in parts of California that rely on out of state water.
> 
> Stop watering grass in Southern California. If grass won’t survive without watering find a more appropriate ground cover.

The first is a great idea. Ag _uses_ 80 of water in CA.

The second is so very minor. One estimate holds it as 3.5% of total water use.

> [@silenus](#):
>
> Outlaw commercial farming of almonds and rice in California.

Yes.

> [@Die\_Capacitrix](#):
>
> Stop subsidizing poor farming choices and start charging water according to its rarity.

Right.

> [@LSLGuy](#):
>
> If we desire to stay afloat, we shut down CA & AZ extractive agriculture. They either dry-land farm or go fallow forever.

No need to go to that extreme.

If Ag simply cuts water usage by a piddling 12%, that equals all the water used by residential. CA has enough water, if we don’t waste it on exporting cheap almonds, etc.

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