Some more info I found about Hoover Damn and the water level I thought I should include.
The minimum elevation to generate power at Hoover Dam is reported by BOR (Bureau of Reclamation) to be 1,050 feet. As of May 20th the water level dropped to 1049.95 feet.
This is because there isn't enough "head" (water fall) to spin the generators. The Desert southwest is really suffering, and has been for several years. A good volcano spewing ash into the atmosphere would help increase winter snowfall and raise the water level all around. (BTW, the biggest hydro generators in the country are on the Columbia River which has had abnormally heavy rain this year.
Video mentioned in title at timestamp.
Some more info I found about Hoover Damn and the water level I thought I should include.
The minimum elevation to generate power at Hoover Dam is reported by BOR (Bureau of Reclamation) to be 1,050 feet. As of May 20th the water level dropped to 1049.95 feet.
This is because there isn't enough "head" (water fall) to spin the generators. The Desert southwest is really suffering, and has been for several years. A good volcano spewing ash into the atmosphere would help increase winter snowfall and raise the water level all around. (BTW, the biggest hydro generators in the country are on the Columbia River which has had abnormally heavy rain this year.