In the past nineteen years, I have written about Lake Powell and the Colorado River twenty-five times. With some overlap, I have written about Glen Canyon Dam fifteen times, Lake Mead eight times, and Hoover Dam six times.

By 2013, I was openly questioning the originally stated need for Lake Powell. Back in the 1950s, officials and boosters touted Glen Canyon Dam as a flood control dam that also happened to produce electrical power. The unspoken reason for its construction was to decrease siltation downstream at Lake Mead. There, unchecked sedimentary flow was already becoming an operational issue. In 2015, I publicly called for the decommissioning of Glen Canyon Dam and the draining of Lake Powell.

Now, in late summer 2026, both nature and water politics have doomed Lake Powell and possibly Lake Mead. Had federal water managers at the Bureau of Reclamation, Department of the Interior taken bold action in 2015, the infrastructure to alleviate a potential “dead pool” at Lake Powell could be in place and ready for action.

As it is, those same water managers and their political overlords kicked the can down the road. They took no action to drill new bypass tunnels around Glen Canyon Dam. Belatedly, they released water from several upstream reservoirs and into Lake Powell. This action, over the past few years, delayed the day of reckoning and subsequent demise of the Colorado River, as we know it.

In 2026, the Lower Colorado River Basin States of Arizona, California and Nevada reached a truce and agreement regarding water usage over the next few years. The Upper Basin States of Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming refused to participate. Instead, they held firm to their “water rights,” as defined in the 1922 “Law of the River.” Their refusal to engage in negotiations tossed the decision-making process back to the federal water managers. Now, the issue is in the hands of the same bureaucrats who previously ignored the facts on the ground, and in the water.

The Colorado River Compact of 1922, as is officially known, wildly overestimated the sustainable flow of the Colorado River. Currently, after two decades of drought, the concept of the old agreement both literally and physically does not hold water. Now, there is not enough water in the Colorado River to go around and there will never be.

Lake Powell –

What remains at Lake Powell is a declining reservoir, losing vast amounts of water to dwindling inflow, banking, evaporation, and upstream development. The system must also absorb a “heat island” effect, which redirects storms away from the Colorado Plateau. To save power production at Glen Canyon Dam, water managers have tapped upstream reservoirs while simultaneously constricting outflow to Lake Mead.

On August 4, 2026, when I began writing this post, the surface of Lake Powell was at 3,522 feet elevation. Now, on September 14, 2026, the lake level is at 3,517 feet elevation, which is an all-time low for the reservoir.

With upstream reservoirs mostly drained and a diminishing snowpack in the Rocky Mountains, minimum power pool, at 3,490 feet elevation may occur by January 1, 2027. As minimum power pool approaches, the turbines at Glen Canyon Dam will spin down and produce less power each day. By the time we celebrate New Year’s 2027, the last turbine might stop, and the dam could go dark. To keep the dam itself functioning without turbine power, the operators would be forced to rely on what remains of the Western Power Grid.

At a date uncertain, Colorado River water will no longer flow via gravity to the Lower Basin, which includes the Grand Canyon, Lake Mead and beyond. Just 149-feet down the hydrological ladder from Lake Powell's current elevation is “dead pool,” at 3,370 feet elevation. At a steady rate of decline, dead pool will occur in late 2028. There is no guarantee that the rate of decline will remain steady.

Lake Mead –

Sequestered behind the venerable Hoover Dam, Lake Mead began filling in 1935. As with Lake Powell, upstream, Lake Mead was last full in July 1983. With occasional fluctuations to the upside, it has been draining and evaporating ever since. Currently, it stands at 1,038 feet elevation, only three feet above the “Power Cliff Threshold.” To prevent “cavitation” at 1,035 feet elevation, twelve of Hoover Dam’s seventeen power turbines will then go offline. Some reports say that the twelve high speed turbines are already offline. The remaining five power turbines have an “open blade” design which allows continued flow, for now. When the twelve turbines stop spinning, seventy percent of Hoover Dam’s electrical power production will cease.

When Lake Mead reaches minimum power pool at 950 feet elevation, all electrical power production at Hoover Dam will conclude. Water will still pass through the dam through gravity until dead pool, at 895 feet elevation. With limited water releases coming from Lake Powell, no one knows for certain when Lake Mead will reach any of these milestones.

One thing is sure. Even if dead pool occurs, the newest of Las Vegas’ water intakes, completed in 2015 will still draw “fresh water” for the city. Commonly known as “The Third Straw,” it is located in the depths of Lake Mead at 860 feet elevation. The Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) currently draws up to 242,000-acre-feet of water annually from Lake Mead. It also discharges 224,000-acre-feet of treated wastewater directly into Lake Mead.

As a great gift to humanity, the SNWA cleans its discharge by an extra four percent, compared to its semi-polluted inflow. The second and third straw intakes are near the rapidly receding and eroding Boulder Beach. After processing, the treated water outfall is at the aptly named Las Vegas Bay. Depending on the water level at the time, the geographic distance between inflow and outfall is six or seven miles.

In late July 2026, the heavy lift system used to build Hoover Dam in the 1930s experienced an unexpected movement and shutdown. Only the heavy lift system can raise and lower power turbine components into the bowels of the dam. Until engineers resolve the heavy lift issue, the twelve oldest power turbines will remain idle and in place. With the reservoir declining and the heavy lift system in question, the future of power production at Hoover Dam is unclear. Do the water managers recognize that further replacement of power turbines at Hoover Dam is a lost cause?

– Implications

Fifty years ago, in 1976, Don Henley of The Eagles rock group wrote a song called “Life in the Fast Lane.” Since 1935, we, the people of the Southwest, have been living in that fast lane. Even today, The Eagles lyrics seem apropos:

"Call the doctor, I think I'm gonna crash. The doctor says he's comin', but you gotta pay in cash. They went rushin' down that freeway, messed around and got lost. They didn't care, they were just dyin' to get off, and it was...Life in that fast lane.”

As the elevation of Lake Mead drops, the receding water pulls vast amounts of lakeshore mud into the reservoir. Visible from space, the turgid water drifts inexorably toward Hoover Dam. This phenomenon, known as “the delta effect,” manifests as an underwater silt stream. All that dense silt, formerly compacted by the heavy, deep water above it, is now on the move. Based on hydrological surveys, silt has now topped the original cofferdam, which lies submerged upstream of the Hoover Dam we know today. As it flows into the final depression at the base of the dam, the silt settles into an uneasy mixture more than one hundred feet high. As such, it approaches the lowest elevation power turbine intakes. If it reaches that level, the five remaining power turbines, unable to digest the corrosive silt, will be retired.

The SNWA, anticipating at least the water level portion of this story, spent over one billion dollars to create its “last gasp,” also known as “The Third Straw.” At a time uncertain, that water intake, feeding the water taps in Las Vegas, will start sucking silt from the dead pool. Soon thereafter, whole system could cavitate and collapse. So too will the water supply of approximately three million Southern Nevada residents.

Where do the forty million people who rely on the Colorado River stand today? Soon, twelve power turbines at Hoover Dam will go dark. Then, the power turbines at Glen Canyon Dam will cease operation. Soon thereafter, Lake Powell will slacken to dead pool, followed by cessation of power production at Hoover Dam. Finally, no water will pass downstream from Hoover Dam, which currently irrigates alfalfa and winter vegetables in the Imperial Valley and provides drinking water to Los Angeles, San Diego, Phoenix, and Tucson.

After all of the flowing water disappears from the Colorado River, and one hundred years after its namesake event, there will be a “reverse Dust Bowl” migration. Without adequate or affordable water and power supplies throughout the Desert Southwest, millions of residents will migrate to regions where sufficient water and power still exist, if only briefly.

I have been publicly calling for the decommissioning of Glen Canyon Dam and the draining of Lake Powell since 2015. As I did then, I would like to say that it is time for bold action. But now, as the hydrological dominoes along the Colorado River continue to fall, it may be too late.

Simi Valley, California - Disqualified As "Tree City USA"

In April 2026, the City of Simi Valley accepted its 26th consecutive Tree City USA Award from the Arbor Day Foundation and CAL FIRE. Mayor Dee Dee Cavanaugh mentioned that she was once a member of the Tree Advisory Board, which last met in August 2010.

At the April 2026 meeting, the City Council unanimously approved the Oak Road South Development Project, a 60-unit condo project, which will destroy five protected native oaks, including the 350-year-old Heritage Oak.

In July 2026, the Simi Valley Planning Commission approved a fifty-eight-home development on East Cochran Street. By claiming that the development included enhanced open space elements, City Staff and the developer avoided seeking an amendment to the General Plan.

By calling it a “Cluster Development,” the Planning Commission unanimously approved a plan that contradicts both California State and Simi Valley open space laws. Acting as the Tree Advisory Board, the Planning Commission also approved removal of five protected trees.

In August 2026, the City Council approved the 364-home Lost Canyons Development Project. Prior to final approval, the developer was already busy destroying protected oak trees within Phase One of the project area.

If you plan to develop a property in Simi Valley, hire a licensed arborist to value the protected trees as depreciating assets. The older the tree, the lower its cash value will be. Any older tree can easily be classified as being in "poor condition." Then, pay a nominal fee for a Tree Removal Permit and replant the same number of trees you plan to annihilate.

Given a penchant for destroying both its neighborhoods and its arboreal heritage, the Simi Valley City Council should rescind its hypocritical Tree Preservation Ordinance and replace it with a simple fee structure. Whatever the value of a protected tree may be, the developer should pay ten times that amount. Only then might a developer think twice about destroying what little remains of a once beautiful Simi Valley, featuring an abundance of oaks and other majestic trees.

The Horror Of Short-Term Rentals Comes Home to Simi Valley

In 1959, When I first saw Simi Valley, California, the population was 8,000. I visited Corriganville Movie Ranch, where Rin Tin Tin was wrapping up filming of a fifth successful TV season. Yet untouched by wildfire, the iconic “Fort Apache” still stood. At the time, I had no idea where I was, but it felt like the Wild West.

In the 1960s, my barber in Burbank purchased a new home in Simi Valley. To travel from Burbank to his new home, he had to navigate the narrow and dangerous Santa Susana Pass. Although paved, the route was unchanged since its origins as a stagecoach road in 1861.

By 1969, when the City of Simi Valley incorporated, new home construction had accelerated dramatically. In 1970, the population had jumped to 60,000. By today’s standards, land was cheap, lumber was plentiful, and construction costs were a fraction of what they are today. In 1979, the 118 Freeway, known as the Ronald Reagan Freeway in Ventura County, surmounted Rocky Peak. That ushered in a new era of high-speed travel between the San Fernando Valley and Simi Valley. Once again, the residential land rush surged. By 1980 the population reached 77,500 and the focus was on construction of single-family ranch style homes.

In 1982, an unheralded event took place at 4267 Roxbury Street in Simi Valley. There, at an unassuming suburban house, Tobe Hooper filmed Poltergeist, a supernatural horror film written by Steven Spielberg. Other than the usual hubbub caused by filming, almost no one remembered that anything out of the ordinary had ever happened on Roxbury Street. In the movie’s most famous scene, child actor Heather O’Rourke said hauntingly, “They’re Back.”

And now, they “are back.” For only $1,376, you can spend the night at the selfsame “Poltergeist House.” After an intense bidding war, sale of the property resulted in it becoming an illegal short-term rental (STR). Now, included with every stay are icy stares from all the neighbors on Roxbury Street. Rest assured that STRs are not legal in Simi Valley, but the City Council has decided to look the other way. Now anyone with the money can buy a house in Simi Valley, rent it out nightly for an outrageous sum, and pocket all the cash. There are no transient occupancy taxes or city registration required.

If you and your “crew” want to stay close to the action, then Simi Valley is the place to be. There are no limits regarding the number of occupants, so invite all your friends to party hearty in Simi Valley. If you plan to “boost” your income while staying here, there is a Home Depot nearby. If you think the Hollywood Hills are hot, you do not know Simi Valley. Here you can rent a suburban home in a formerly quiet neighborhood and remain undetected by local police. If you were not a Simi Valley “booster” before, you will be soon.

Recently, the Ventura County district attorney indicted at least fourteen people for over six hundred retail thefts at Home Depot locations throughout Southern California. Not surprisingly, the Home Depot in Simi Valley was a favorite of the “crew” that stole $10 million in merchandise from the home improvement chain.

Whether your “crew” is looking for “fencing” or just to “boost” your inventory of electrical components, here is the plan. Purchase a prepaid debit card, create a new online persona, and borrow a work truck from friends of your crew. Then, book a short-term rental on a quiet residential street in Simi Valley. Get a good night’s sleep, then wake up early and head for the Home Depot. Even in summer, wear a bulky parka to stash your high value electrical components. When it is time to check out, use your spotter to call and indicate that the coast is clear. Then, head out to your work truck, drive a block away and unload your goods into the tool bins. If you have sufficient time, head for the Oxnard Home Depot, or go right back into the Simi Valley location and repeat the process.

When it is time to head to your home-base in the San Fernando Valley, no matter how hungry you are, do not stop at the In-N-Out Burger at Stearns Street. In the median by the entrance, there is a license plate reader camera that could bring the police running. Just obey the speed limit and drive back over Rocky Peak as if you are a real contractor.

At a recent meeting, the Simi Valley City Council unanimously agreed to provide $70,000 per year to the Simi Valley Chamber of Commerce. This taxpayer money will help promote local businesses and an annual street fair. At the fair, you can rent a space and sell all your recently “boosted” products back to the residents of Simi Valley. Prior to funding this “business promotion business,” the city should require the Chamber to explicitly state its opposition to short-term rentals. The Chamber should instead offer its full support to the legitimate hotels and motels in Simi Valley.

Now in 2025, the 125,000 residents of Simi Valley have a choice to make. Will they allow their City Council to “whistle past the graveyard” that is the Poltergeist theme house? Will the City Council continue to ignore its primary function, which is to provide "a safe and healthy living environment" for its citizens? My bet is that they will kick the can down the road. Soon enough, it will be too late to do more than register and tax a horde of “hotels next door.” After all these years, isn’t Simi Valley still the Wild West?

Short-Term Rentals Create Havoc in Simi Valley Neighborhoods

On August 4th, 2025, the Simi Valley City Council discussed short-term rentals, or “STRs”, as they are commonly known. While the Council voted to postpone a ban on STRs, thank you, Mayor Dee Dee Cavanaugh, for your lone dissenting vote. Indicating deference for proposed state laws, Council-member Rocky Rhodes said that voting on the issue of STRs is “probably two months premature.”

Research shows that state bills will focus primarily on taxes, transparency, and local control. California Senate Bill 346 authorizes local agencies to require short-term rental facilitators to report information to assist in enforcing the collection of transient occupancy taxes.

Even if Senate Bill 346 passes, the legislature will throw the regulation of STRs back to the individual cities. In the near term, there will be no comprehensive statewide solution.

At the August 4th and August 18 meetings, several residents spoke up, asking the council to enact a full ban on STRs. Two speakers expressed the horror of having a party house in their neighborhood, including noise, trash, and constant disruption. Speaking of “horror,” the “Poltergeist House,” used in filming of the 1982 movie by the same name is now an unregistered STR in Simi Valley. It is so famous that Los Angeles TV station Channel 9 featured it on both their newscast and their website. It was an open invitation to party at what looks like any other home in the neighborhood.

Since the incorporation of Simi Valley in 1969, it has always been known as an “owner occupied,” bedroom community. Now, between seventy and one hundred known STRs operate unregulated and unlawfully throughout the city. With the City of Los Angeles’ current ban on “second home” STRs, the number of scofflaw STRs in Simi Valley could grow exponentially. Chatsworth, which is a neighborhood in Los Angeles is only minutes away via the 118 Freeway.

Once affordable, homes in Simi Valley’s 1960’s Texas Tract now list for $900,000 and above. Each sale of a single-family home removes one more parcel off the list of properties that once were owner-occupied. Each sale to an investor or corporation decreases ongoing supply and drives up prices. With two out of nineteen homes on our block now advertised as STRs, there are no longer any school aged children here. Continuation of this trend could lead to teacher layoffs and school closures.

Simi Valley is rapidly becoming an investment Mecca for those with indifference to the disruption their STR might cause to a neighborhood. I know. For over ten years we lived next to a notorious Simi Valley party house. After calling the police fourteen times regarding wild parties, we lost track. Despite constant noise and disruption, police issued only a single citation. With the police-force already stretched, increased calls regarding raucous parties at STRs will further dilute crime fighting resources. 

Recently, my other next-door neighbor silently became a corporately owned STR. It now features glowing Airbnb reviews for its location in a “quiet neighborhood.” How long will it be before we see rogue parties at that location? Will we ever see owner occupancy or a long-term renter there ever again?

Wherever you may live in Simi Valley, (or anywhere in California) do you want an unregulated and unlicensed business operating next door to you? Should we wait until it is too late to stop the destruction of our beautiful Simi Valley community, in favor of corporate greed and meager additional tax revenue?

Now is the time for the Simi Valley City Council to enact a full ban on Short Term Rentals.