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#1
The Gravel Bar / Re: unlimited it's the water, ...
Last post by Woolly Bugger - Today at 11:48:06 AMFeds want to cut back water releases from Lake Powell in response to Colorado River drought
Federal and state officials rush to figure out how to move water between reservoir savings accounts to stabilize the supply for 40 million people in a parched river basin
Federal and state officials have proposed severe drought response actions, like drastically cutting water releases from Lake Powell, in face of a historically dry year and worsening conditions in the Colorado River Basin.
The Bureau of Reclamation announced Friday it will likely reduce Lake Powell water releases to 6 million acre-feet, the lowest amount in decades. It also intends to release additional water from Flaming Gorge, an upstream reservoir, to help elevate the water level in Lake Powell. The decisions could raise the specter of forced water cuts in states including Colorado, impact endangered fish populations and affect communities and economies.
Basin states, tribes and partners continue to provide feedback on the proposed releases. A final decision will be coming next week, Reclamation said Friday in a news release.
"Given the severity of the risks facing the Colorado River system, it is imperative that we take action quickly to protect a resource that supplies water to 40 million people and supports vital agricultural, hydropower production, tribal, wildlife, and recreational uses across the region," Andrea Travnicek, Reclamation's assistant secretary of water and science, said in the news release.
The Colorado River Basin, which stretches from Colorado's mountains to the Pacific Ocean, saw about a quarter of its typical snowpack this year. The skimpy snowpack also shrank the amount of water flowing into the basin's two major reservoirs, lakes Mead and Powell, the largest reservoirs in the nation. Lake Powell's lower probable inflow is forecast to be just 2.78 million acre-feet — 29% of historical average and one of the lowest on record.
Powell held about a quarter of its storage capacity as of a Bureau of Reclamation presentation Friday. Mead held about a third of its capacity. The amount of water stored in federal reservoirs across the basin was just 36% as of Friday.
https://coloradosun.com/2026/04/20/feds-water-releases-lake-powell-colorado-river-drought/
Federal and state officials rush to figure out how to move water between reservoir savings accounts to stabilize the supply for 40 million people in a parched river basin
Federal and state officials have proposed severe drought response actions, like drastically cutting water releases from Lake Powell, in face of a historically dry year and worsening conditions in the Colorado River Basin.
The Bureau of Reclamation announced Friday it will likely reduce Lake Powell water releases to 6 million acre-feet, the lowest amount in decades. It also intends to release additional water from Flaming Gorge, an upstream reservoir, to help elevate the water level in Lake Powell. The decisions could raise the specter of forced water cuts in states including Colorado, impact endangered fish populations and affect communities and economies.
Basin states, tribes and partners continue to provide feedback on the proposed releases. A final decision will be coming next week, Reclamation said Friday in a news release.
"Given the severity of the risks facing the Colorado River system, it is imperative that we take action quickly to protect a resource that supplies water to 40 million people and supports vital agricultural, hydropower production, tribal, wildlife, and recreational uses across the region," Andrea Travnicek, Reclamation's assistant secretary of water and science, said in the news release.
The Colorado River Basin, which stretches from Colorado's mountains to the Pacific Ocean, saw about a quarter of its typical snowpack this year. The skimpy snowpack also shrank the amount of water flowing into the basin's two major reservoirs, lakes Mead and Powell, the largest reservoirs in the nation. Lake Powell's lower probable inflow is forecast to be just 2.78 million acre-feet — 29% of historical average and one of the lowest on record.
Powell held about a quarter of its storage capacity as of a Bureau of Reclamation presentation Friday. Mead held about a third of its capacity. The amount of water stored in federal reservoirs across the basin was just 36% as of Friday.
https://coloradosun.com/2026/04/20/feds-water-releases-lake-powell-colorado-river-drought/
#2
Warm Water Species / More Bronze
Last post by bmadd - April 20, 2026, 20:48:55 PMBeen a while since I've posted a tr. Got some time last week at the front of a boat on the longest un impounded river in Tennessee. A bill was just passed this month to protect this river as well as a few others in Middle Tennessee by designating them as Class II scenic rivers. This river, and the river it branches off of, are two of the most biologically diverse rivers in the US.
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This river shares a name with America's first scenic river over in Arkansas. It was named after the large population of smallmouth buffalo that run this river. European settlers named it after the dis after seeing how full the holes can get during the spawn. I was after the other smallmouth though.
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The fish are there, but require some finesse. The rivers are so rich, they don't chase a meal down because another will soon be right there. A popper-dropper was the ticket most of the day with all fish coming on a simple minnow fly.
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Lots of water snakes were out and about. Lots of eagles, both juvenile and adult were flying up and down the river the entire day. Sorry Doug, there were probably flowers but I didn't have time for that.
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The water was 70+ degrees. The smallmouth seemed in full post spawn. Caught a few small spots that were still in pre spawn. Season seems to be progressing about 3 weeks ahead of schedule. The fish came steady in spurts. Caught two on craws, the rest all on minnows. 4 at 15" with the largest 16.5". Could be worse.
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#3
The Gravel Bar / Re: Video of the day...
Last post by Woolly Bugger - April 20, 2026, 08:14:39 AM #4
Warm Water Species / Re: Yaddy-Ho
Last post by Ronbo - April 20, 2026, 08:02:47 AMQuote from: Onslow on April 20, 2026, 06:39:33 AMQuote from: Ronbo on April 20, 2026, 05:55:00 AMMy son and I were on the Yadkin Saturday. Put in early and caught some smaller fish. The good news is that an abundance of fry was seen in all the right locations. Maybe one good thing about drought is what appears to be a successful spawn.
2026 fry already?
Yes. So it would seem.
#5
The Gravel Bar / Re: Data Center
Last post by Woolly Bugger - April 20, 2026, 07:48:37 AM Data Centers Drove Half of U.S. Power Demand Growth in 2025, IEA Says
The world's electricity demand rose by 3% in 2025, with growth nearly triple compared to the 1.3% increase in total energy consumption, as data centers and electric vehicles continued to push power use higher, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said on Monday.
Overall global energy demand growth slowed to 1.3% in 2025, slightly below the previous decade's average of 1.4% and significantly lower than in 2024, as global economic growth slowed and cooling demand in Asia was lower than in 2024, the IEA found in its annual Global Energy Review report published today.
While total energy demand growth cooled, electricity demand continued to grow strongly, with an annual rise of 3% last year. The growth rate eased from 4.4% in 2024, when intense heat waves in India and Southeast Asia had boosted electricity consumption.
https://oilprice.com/Latest-Energy-News/World-News/Data-Centers-Drove-Half-of-US-Power-Demand-Growth-in-2025-IEA-Says.html
The world's electricity demand rose by 3% in 2025, with growth nearly triple compared to the 1.3% increase in total energy consumption, as data centers and electric vehicles continued to push power use higher, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said on Monday.
Overall global energy demand growth slowed to 1.3% in 2025, slightly below the previous decade's average of 1.4% and significantly lower than in 2024, as global economic growth slowed and cooling demand in Asia was lower than in 2024, the IEA found in its annual Global Energy Review report published today.
While total energy demand growth cooled, electricity demand continued to grow strongly, with an annual rise of 3% last year. The growth rate eased from 4.4% in 2024, when intense heat waves in India and Southeast Asia had boosted electricity consumption.
https://oilprice.com/Latest-Energy-News/World-News/Data-Centers-Drove-Half-of-US-Power-Demand-Growth-in-2025-IEA-Says.html
#6
Warm Water Species / Re: Yaddy-Ho
Last post by Onslow - April 20, 2026, 06:39:33 AMQuote from: Ronbo on April 20, 2026, 05:55:00 AMMy son and I were on the Yadkin Saturday. Put in early and caught some smaller fish. The good news is that an abundance of fry was seen in all the right locations. Maybe one good thing about drought is what appears to be a successful spawn.
2026 fry already?
#7
Warm Water Species / Re: Yaddy-Ho
Last post by Ronbo - April 20, 2026, 05:55:00 AMMy son and I were on the Yadkin Saturday. Put in early and caught some smaller fish. The good news is that an abundance of fry was seen in all the right locations. Maybe one good thing about drought is what appears to be a successful spawn.
#8
Warm Water Species / Re: Unlimited Tailwaters
Last post by Onslow - April 19, 2026, 14:44:32 PMHit the road at 4:50 AM Friday to explore some new territory. Blewitt Falls dam.
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Morning discharges which are needed for stripers have been scant due to the lack of water. Blewitt does not have much storage so it runs all the time.
2500 cfs isn't enough for specific tailwater action. I could paddle down and up without much difficulty at this level.
Water visibility was only 18". Apparently the lake become blown out due to Rocky and Little River runnoff a couple weeks earlier.
No fish were caught. I did see some mega wake action presumably from monster cats in tight banke cover. Wish I would've caught a shad.
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As I was heading back, Erik called and it wasn't a good one. I had to abort the rest of the day's activities. I did take a scenic tour on the way home to scout out the last bridge on the Little, Grassy Island access, Rocky River @ Norwood access, and Tillery dam. Tillery looks better.
A dude caught a couple stripers there. I had planned of fishing there after lunch and should've started there instead of Blewett.
#9
Warm Water Species / Re: Yaddy-Ho
Last post by Onslow - April 19, 2026, 14:24:21 PMJeff gave it a try last Friday. Fish appear to be in spawn mode. Larger females were largely absent.
#10
The Gravel Bar / DRBA plans May 2 paddle along ...
Last post by Woolly Bugger - April 19, 2026, 11:32:32 AMThe Dan River Basin Association will host a 5-mile paddling trip May 2 along the Smith River, offering participants a chance to explore a section of the waterway rich in both natural beauty and regional history.
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The outing, part of the group's monthly "First Saturday" series, will take paddlers from the Bassett Canoe Access to the Great Road Access. The trip will be coordinated by Wayne Kirkpatrick, an experienced paddler and member of the association's outings committee.
Participants are asked to meet by 9 a.m. at the Bassett Canoe Access, located at 271 Trent Hill Drive, to unload boats and gear and arrange transportation between the put-in and take-out points.
https://archive.ph/mkESO