GSL Slip Renters and Marina Users.

Lake Level Report

I have had a few requests to publish a final Lake Level report in email format.  So here it is.

We had a phenomenal year!  In fact it was historic.  The last record rise for Great Salt Lake was in the mid 1980’s and it was 4.75’ rise.  The previous year of 1983 was the record rise of 4.7’.  We came up 4.9’ this year!

We started out the water year (October through May) with a low water level of 4193.6’.  This was the closest we have been to the record lows of the early 1960’s.  Several boats were stuck in their slips with keels firmly buried in the mud including my Capri 30 this winter.  In fact during the negative storm surges of November we had boats lifting up out of their slips.  I have some great photos of this.

But this winter was a banner year.  It was even historic in some areas of the Great Salt Lake drainage area.  Snowbird still has snow.  We still have a lot of water coming into the lake through the three main tributaries.  Currents are still running stronger than normal for this time of year.  Yet evaporation is now happening at a greater rate than runoff coming in.  The other factor impacting our lake level is that there is water running under the causeway breach again filling the north half.  Luckily we are nearing a normal balance between the north and south halves of Great Salt Lake.  Our “normal” balance is the south half being one foot higher than the north half.  We have finally achieved that.  This spring it was 1.5’ difference.

The lake topped off late June at 4198.5’ and maintained that level till mid July.  This was very good.  We normally top off mid may and begin the descent by early June at the latest.  This later date of being stabilized means many less evaporation days for the lake.  Normally we rise two feet from mid November to mid May.  Then we drop two feet early June to early November.  This year we came up 4.9’ and will likely only loose 1.6’ for a low lake level of 4196.9’ mid November.  That will be a net gain from last November of 3.3’.  That is absolutely awesome!  If my calculations are correct, that will mean a lake level at the mouth of the marina of 7.2’ rather than the 3.9’ of last November.

It’s all about the sunspots!

Construction Update

The construction crew was hoping to have the electricity run to the new building before this weekend and have the parking lot patched.  This will not happen.  The parking lot will have a gaping hole through the weekend.  But you can still access the south half of the marina by a sliver of parking area near the grass.  Please do not park in the stalls near the grass as this may block access for slip renters in the southern half of the parking lot.  The patch across the road should be completed early next week.

It will also be necessary to turn the power off to the whole marina in order to connect the new transformer.  This is not scheduled yet but is likely to be in about three weeks.  The power will need to be off for at least a day.  I will keep you posted on the plans to kill the electricity when we get closer to an actual date.

Anchorages

I’m still working on anchorages for the web site.  I should have Cradle Bay, Pass Canyon Springs, Sandy Beach Bay and Crystal Bay done by tonight or tomorrow.  If there is an anchorage you would like me to add, please let me know.

Harbormaster