"Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime"-MARK TWAIN

Sunday, August 9, 2015

Heron Lake

 

We spent a few days at Heron Lake State Park, near Chama, New Mexico.  Heron Lake was created by the Bureau of Reclamation in the 1960’s as a water storage facility for the San Juan-Chama Project.  Another government project which was never completed as planned.  Bottom line is it moves water from one side of the Continental Divide to the other for the benefit of cities such as Santa Fe and Albuquerque.

Things looked really good for a few years.

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But then the snow pack began to shrink, and the demand exceeded the supply.  The park host said the lake was actually up more this year than in the last few.

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There may come a time when Heron Lake is once again full,  but with the demand for water throughout the West growing each year, I really doubt it.  The Sailing Club may have to find a new home.

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…..jc

6 comments:

  1. Not a pretty site.....though I enjoy that area very much...if you have time, down the road a piece(us-84) is Abiquiu Reservoir..CoE runs it, great campsite and the price is right, have hook-ups and non hookups...right on the lake super views...another nice sunset photo...take care..Horst sends

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  2. Are you kidding me! I've been in site 11 for the weekend. Headed to Los Alamos this morning.

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  4. Was in Portland for the weekend, it is so incredibly dry there--I'm used to seeing lush green roadsides, not this summer--dry, brown grass. The creeks are low--some not running. Sad.

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  5. It's sad to see the water so low...but you were at least out there to see it. I showed David one of the photos of all you folks enjoying the fire with your long sleeves and hats. I asked him how it made him feel....my husband who rarely identifies a feeling....he said "sad'".
    But we are happy for you two and the others! Looking forward to camping again.

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Thanks for looking, and comments are welcome.