3 Mile Tunnel Under Lake Mead (Video)

(N.Morgan) Lake Mead’s water level has dropped to 1,079.76 feet above sea level — nearly 140 feet below capacity — as the prolonged drought continues to evaporate the beleaguered Colorado River system.

Mead’s chalky white shoreline is advancing as the waters quickly recede.

For California, Arizona and Nevada, which draw water from Mead, a grim situation is about to get worse:

Officials estimate that Mead will drop to the unprecedented low elevation of 1,073 feet as the hottest summer months bear down, with less snow pack in the Rocky Mountains to recharge the Colorado River.

Officials have decided to take another route to locating water for the lake, by digging deep underground.

In the video below, viewers get a unique view far underground, where engineers are looking miles beneath the surface of the country’s largest reservoir for water.

To get a better idea of how the tunnels will be utilized, the main components of the project include:

• A new intake opening at elevation 860 feet;

• A 3-mile long tunnel that will draw and convey water from a deeper location in Lake Mead;

• A connecting tunnel from the new intake to an existing intake pumping station;

• And significant modifications to the existing second intake to accommodate interconnection with the new third intake.

The total project cost, including construction, engineering, construction management and material procurement is $817 million. Underground tunneling and excavation with the tunnel boring machine began in 2012.

The project is scheduled for completion in summer 2015.

As I’ve discussed in my previous article about the water levels dramatic drop, without water, the City of Las Vegas will be no more.

The drought that has been plaguing the west is an odd and unexpected occurrence.

Is this an engineered event?

Or just Mother Nature reaping vengeance on us for not taking better care of her?

References:

http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-lake-mead-low-20150429-story.html

http://www.nbcnews.com/nightly-news/video/as-lake-mead-dries-up–engineers-dig-deep-in-search-for-water-461715011636

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