02-21-2009, 06:14 PM
02-21-2009, 06:48 PM
They are deeping the cut for the boaters...
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02-21-2009, 06:59 PM
I figured that much, just wondered if anyone had any other info (website, newspaper article). From the webcam it looks as though they are a bit away from the actual "Cut" and may be widening the "Cut" and maybe making it deeper?
TS
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TS
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02-21-2009, 10:20 PM
Is the cut open?
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02-21-2009, 10:26 PM
Never mind. I see it is high and dry!!
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02-21-2009, 10:50 PM
The cut is open and the smaller boats have used it last fall but they are taking it deeper and wider for house boats as well...
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02-21-2009, 11:34 PM
There suppose to take it down 20', that means it will be open at low water most of the time
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02-21-2009, 11:37 PM
So the cut is open?
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02-21-2009, 11:45 PM
I will be there this coming weekend, I was told that it was by a buddy that just got back...
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02-22-2009, 12:02 AM
That'll save some time and fuel. We are going down the third week in April. I'll look forward to your report when you get back.
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02-22-2009, 03:30 AM
The "CUT" is NOT open!!! You can tell by the webcam and the water level is 3.14 feet below the bare minimum access point level!!! Unless you have one of those Amphibium (spell check) vessels I dont think you are getting through!!!
TS
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TS
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02-22-2009, 06:15 AM
in the news:
[url "http://www.azdailysun.com/articles/2009/02/14/news/local/20090214_local_190882.txt"]http://www.azdailysun.com/articles/2009/02/14/news/local/20090214_local_190882.txt[/url]
Work begins next week on Lake Powell shortcut
Saturday, February 14, 2009
PAGE -- Work is expected to begin next week to mechanically deepen Castle Rock Cut, the popular Lake Powell shortcut that reopened last spring after a five-year hiatus.
Stan Austin, superintendent of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, said Thursday that park service staff members will place buoys around the work area to ready the site for contractor Brown Brothers Construction of Loa, Utah. Excavation will go down to about 3,610 feet elevation, removing more than 15,000 cubic yards of material, Austin stated in a news release. If the lake drops in subsequent years, excavation could continue to a maximum depth of 3,580 feet.
"This not only saves time and gas for boaters, but it also provides for a safer boating experience," Facilities Chief Dan Bishop said in the release.
Drought-caused low water caused the cut to close in 2003. The cut reopened last June on the strength of a favorable winter for precipitation in the Colorado River's upper basin. The cut was closed again in November by an expected seasonal drop in lake elevation.
Snowpack in the Upper Colorado region has been measured at 104 percent of the Feb. 12 average.
and
[url "http://www.lakepowellchronicle.com/fe_view_article.php?story_id=1647&page_id=77&heading=0"]http://www.lakepowellchronicle.com/fe_view_article.php?story_id=1647&page_id=77&heading=0[/url]
Castle Rock Cut work is beginning
Posted: Thursday, Feb 19th, 2009
BY: Michael Wigman — Lake Powell Chronicle
PAGE – A constant worry of past summers on Lake Powell has been, for the foreseeable future, wiped out of the minds of boaters. Blasting and excavation begins this week to ensure the long-term opening of Castle Rock Cut.
The passage way saves boaters approximately 10 miles off a trip to or from Wahweap Marina from up-lake.
National Park Service Regional Director Mike Snyder signed a Finding of No Significant Impact for the environmental assessment on Nov. 3, 2008. The FONSI identified the selected alternative as deepening the channel to a maximum depth of 3,580 feet.
The NPS will initially only blast and excavate down to 3,610 feet, leaving 30 more feet of excavation to be done if the lake’s water levels drop in the coming years.
For the complete article see the 02-18-2009 issue.
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[url "http://www.azdailysun.com/articles/2009/02/14/news/local/20090214_local_190882.txt"]http://www.azdailysun.com/articles/2009/02/14/news/local/20090214_local_190882.txt[/url]
Work begins next week on Lake Powell shortcut
Saturday, February 14, 2009
PAGE -- Work is expected to begin next week to mechanically deepen Castle Rock Cut, the popular Lake Powell shortcut that reopened last spring after a five-year hiatus.
Stan Austin, superintendent of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, said Thursday that park service staff members will place buoys around the work area to ready the site for contractor Brown Brothers Construction of Loa, Utah. Excavation will go down to about 3,610 feet elevation, removing more than 15,000 cubic yards of material, Austin stated in a news release. If the lake drops in subsequent years, excavation could continue to a maximum depth of 3,580 feet.
"This not only saves time and gas for boaters, but it also provides for a safer boating experience," Facilities Chief Dan Bishop said in the release.
Drought-caused low water caused the cut to close in 2003. The cut reopened last June on the strength of a favorable winter for precipitation in the Colorado River's upper basin. The cut was closed again in November by an expected seasonal drop in lake elevation.
Snowpack in the Upper Colorado region has been measured at 104 percent of the Feb. 12 average.
and
[url "http://www.lakepowellchronicle.com/fe_view_article.php?story_id=1647&page_id=77&heading=0"]http://www.lakepowellchronicle.com/fe_view_article.php?story_id=1647&page_id=77&heading=0[/url]
Castle Rock Cut work is beginning
Posted: Thursday, Feb 19th, 2009
BY: Michael Wigman — Lake Powell Chronicle
PAGE – A constant worry of past summers on Lake Powell has been, for the foreseeable future, wiped out of the minds of boaters. Blasting and excavation begins this week to ensure the long-term opening of Castle Rock Cut.
The passage way saves boaters approximately 10 miles off a trip to or from Wahweap Marina from up-lake.
National Park Service Regional Director Mike Snyder signed a Finding of No Significant Impact for the environmental assessment on Nov. 3, 2008. The FONSI identified the selected alternative as deepening the channel to a maximum depth of 3,580 feet.
The NPS will initially only blast and excavate down to 3,610 feet, leaving 30 more feet of excavation to be done if the lake’s water levels drop in the coming years.
For the complete article see the 02-18-2009 issue.
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02-22-2009, 03:35 PM
Great info FF4T, that is what I was wondering!!! Thanks.
TS
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TS
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02-23-2009, 02:44 AM
Your right at this time it is closed so work can be done, but up until the work started it was open and small boats could and was using it when closed it was about 3' to 4' deep at best...
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02-23-2009, 02:56 AM
Didnt the article posted above say it closed in November?
TS
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02-23-2009, 03:04 AM
The people at Powell that I called said small boats was still using it till work started....Thats all I know...
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02-23-2009, 07:38 PM
If you go to the wayneswords recreation section it shows a whole series of pictures of the work so far.
It's been too low to pass about any motorized boats since November.
The cut is dry and will continue being cut (and dry) as the lake continues to lower. I suspect they'll temporarily block both ends to deepen it to the requisite depth.
The contractor is basically removing muddy material now in an effort to get the majority of the work done, but it's not a dredge job, so there will be no "cut" access until well into the spring or early summer.
But after that, it should extend the boating access through that way for many years to come and at much lower water levels. I'll appreciate that so that I can bypass the Maytag Straights in my 17' Tracker.
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It's been too low to pass about any motorized boats since November.
The cut is dry and will continue being cut (and dry) as the lake continues to lower. I suspect they'll temporarily block both ends to deepen it to the requisite depth.
The contractor is basically removing muddy material now in an effort to get the majority of the work done, but it's not a dredge job, so there will be no "cut" access until well into the spring or early summer.
But after that, it should extend the boating access through that way for many years to come and at much lower water levels. I'll appreciate that so that I can bypass the Maytag Straights in my 17' Tracker.
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02-24-2009, 02:48 AM
17' Tracker huh? That is what I had. Sold it to my brother (kochanut).
TS
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02-24-2009, 04:14 AM
and i got screwed on the deal! i got no kicker motor!
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02-24-2009, 05:52 PM
Kochanut;
Oh come on now, Trout Slayer will throw one in for ya.
I actually have a 2hp that I really don't use that much instead prefering the large motor at low idle. It works for me at Powell, Strawberry and other wind-prone waters where the kicker doesn't do much.
So, TS - when are you planning your first Powell sojourn?
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Oh come on now, Trout Slayer will throw one in for ya.
I actually have a 2hp that I really don't use that much instead prefering the large motor at low idle. It works for me at Powell, Strawberry and other wind-prone waters where the kicker doesn't do much.
So, TS - when are you planning your first Powell sojourn?
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