Posted on 03/08/2024 12:20:23 PM PST by Red Badger
The winds blew Lake Manly from its original lakebed. But it also left the water shallower and muddier than before, forcing the National Park Service to close all boating activities in the lake.
Badwater Basin in Death Valley National Park in California, on March 4, 2024.John D Hallett / National Park Service
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Powerful 40 mph winds from Feb. 29 to March 2 in Death Valley blew Lake Manly two miles north, according to the National Park Service. The lake spread out to cover more ground, but at a shallower depth.
The water slowly moved back to its original lakebed, but with the winds speeding up evaporation, Lake Manly was left shallower and muddier than before.
People were able to launch kayaks 10 feet from the road at this location until February 28. This photo, taken March 2, shows how far away from the road the lake moved during the windstorm.Abby Wines / National Park Service With the current conditions, the National Park Service could no longer allow boating on Lake Manly.
“It was amazing to see an entire lake migrate!” Death Valley National Park Superintendent Mike Reynolds said in a statement Monday. "But now the water is drying up, leaving wide mudflats. People were walking a long way, sometimes dragging their boats. This leaves footprints and drag marks that will likely be visible for years."
"This left us with no choice but to curtail boating on historic Lake Manly at this time," Reynolds added.
Lake Manly is a temporary lake that forms in Badwater Basin when enough rain falls to cover the salt flat. The lake returned after two storms brought record amounts of rain to Death Valley: Hurricane Hilary in August and the atmospheric river in early February.
“You might think with no drain to the sea, that Death Valley would always have a lake,” park ranger Abby Wines said in a statement. “But this is an extremely rare event. Normally the amount of water flowing in is much less than the evaporation rate.”
For almost a month, visitors flocked to the national park for the rare opportunity to kayak on Lake Manly. And although boating is now closed, the lake could create beautiful reflections through April.
Possibly with spring melt off it will come back?
Is it just me, or is this article written in a sort of confusing eay?
There goes my water ski trip to Death Valley
The article is missing climate change hysteria.
Apparently this hasn’t happened since 2005. I don’t think they could make much of a ‘climate change’ argument for it, unless they also argued that ‘climate change’ whimsically stops and starts.
(Plain old Weather changes, though...)
Nature is beautiful.
You mean like it moved then moved back which means it didn’t move at all...
No, I just didn’t think it explained very well how a pluvial lake like this ‘works’ for people who aren’t acquainted with it.
pluvial lakes come and go. that’s what they do...they’re just big puddles.
Yes. I don’t think that was really explained in the article. It was written as if for the small community who know about this kind of lake.
AMEN!
I read an article a couple of weeks ago when the lake first formed which gave the needed background.
If you have never been to Death Valley NP, you should go. It is the most under-rated NP in America. Absolutely stunning, but I do suggest you go in cooler months. Also, Joshua Tree National Park (Forest?) is fairly close as well, and it is stunning. California would be a great state if it wasn’t for ....
If you have never been to Death Valley NP, you should go. It is the most under-rated NP in America. Absolutely stunning, but I do suggest you go in cooler months. Also, Joshua Tree National Park (Forest?) is fairly close as well, and it is stunning. California would be a great state if it wasn’t for ....
No, it won't. See that snow capped mountain in the background of the photo? That's Telescope Peak, 11,049 feet, the only source of snow near Badwater. The melting from the peak evaporates before it gets anywhere near the valley.
Runoff effectiveness is predicated to the speed of the warmup...................................
Yes, and it’s 76 degrees today at Furnace Creek near Badwater in Death Valley.
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