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September 8, 1997Mrs. Lynn L. Clark Dear Lynn, Thank you for your letter regarding a
proposal by the Sierra Club to drain Lake Powell. I share your concerns and am pleased to have this opportunity to respond. As you know, the Sierra Club adopted a resolution to drain Lake Powell in November of 1996.
While this resolution does not carry any legal weight, it has brought concern, understandably, to all those who depend on the lake as a prime, source of water, power, livelihood, and recreation. Lake Powell is one of
the most important recreation, water management, and electrical generation facilities in the entire West. Draining the lake could undo decades of contracts, treaties, and court rulings that have deemed the water
impounded by Glen Canyon Dam as an integral piece to the allocation of the Colorado River among seven states. Lake Powell was created to meet an obligation in a 74 year old agreement called the Colorado River Compact.
Under this pact, the upper basin states of Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico are obligated to deliver 7.5 million acre-feet of water a year to the lower basin states of Arizona, Nevada, and California. Lake
Powell, which holds 27 million acre-feet of water, serves as the storage tank for that water. If the lake were to be drained, the upper basin states would be unable to comply with the compact. Obviously, the Sierra
Club has failed to take into account the importance of Lake Powell and the many services it provides to those who reside in the Southwest. Aside from a court ruling, it would require an act of Congress to dismantle this
lifeline that has taken decades to create. You can be assured of my efforts to put to rest any piece of legislation that would lead to the draining of Lake Powell.
Again, thank you for your letter, and please keep in touch.
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