Rush Lake Early '90s

[lesvierra]

So what was rush lake like in the early 90s. Does the lake get bigger and stay longer when the great salt lake is high? In my one year's experience at rush lake, I havent seen many wind surfers. Something to do with the depth. did wind surfers ride there more in the past? Who owns rush lake and surrounding property.

A little less seriously, If anyone wants to donate $100,000, I can design/construct a pump station to divert water from the ground into the lake. Water evaporation would be significant, but infiltration through the mud would probably be slow. Wouldnt it be nice to have rush all summer long? They even have those sonar anti algea devices to slow algea growth. Maybe even add a large wind tunnel to help when the wind isnt blowing. Hmmm.

[Craig Goudie]

I sailed Rush in the early 90s. My opinion is that the lake requires several
years of more than average snowfall (and thus a higher water table)
to get any bigger. I believe it does
rise and fall with the level of the GSL. Rush was a mud bog (much like
it is today) until the spring of 82 (I think) that was the year there was
enough flooding to divert water down SLC main street. After that,
Rush was pretty deep (like over my 6'3" head). In the late 80s and early
90s, it was the high wind bastion for local windsurfers, and there were
many of us there, testing our metal against some strong winds, and
some actual swell (which Rush was then deep enough to develop).
The picture of me on a 3.2 http://www.utahwindriders.org/images/image3.jpg
was taken in the early 90s on a 40 MPH day, and the picture of
Doug Cox dramatic laydown jibe in the UWA banner above is from
the glory years at Rush (I think). I still get a day or 2 in every spring,
but it's shallow and only good for jibe practice in the Spring now.
Waterways are owned by the State of Utah, but any land around there is
owned by farmers and ranchers who surround the "lake".

I have seen (and smelled) the dreaded carp kill and the red algae bloom there. The early Surfrats festered out (sometimes for days at a time)
waiting for wind, in flies thick enough to make you think twice about
breathing. We played volleyball and frisbee in the hot sun while waiting
for the wind, and many a beer was quaffed.

I miss the glory years of Rush, but you guys need someplace where
you can kite almost every afternnoon. Enjoy it while it lasts.

-Craig

So what was rush lake like in the early 90s. Does the lake get bigger and stay longer when the great salt lake is high? In my one year's experience at rush lake, I havent seen many wind surfers. Something to do with the depth. did wind surfers ride there more in the past? Who owns rush lake and surrounding property.

A little less seriously, If anyone wants to donate $100,000, I can design/construct a pump station to divert water from the ground into the lake. Water evaporation would be significant, but infiltration through the mud would probably be slow. Wouldnt it be nice to have rush all summer long? They even have those sonar anti algea devices to slow algea growth. Maybe even add a large wind tunnel to help when the wind isnt blowing. Hmmm.

[windzup]

Rush could be the next big housing development..........umm maybe.


Last Sundays paper had a huge half page advert with this beautiful lake surrounded by mountains with houses on the slope above the lake. It took me forever to figure out where this new lake front housing community called SRB South Rim Benches was going in at..........Then I relaized its a housing development going in on Rush's west side.

I love riding there, couldn't imagine living there, and its funny to think that some lucky Utahn will have Rush for beach front property some day.

Now if they bring in sand to Rushs' shores, well................

Windzup,
Brian Schenck

[Josh Shirley]

this last spring Rick H and I were out at Grantsville and spoke with the lake caretaker who works for Grantsville Irrigation Company. He said that since 1983 the company has basically taken all the water from those mountains to the west. Piped over from every canyon. He also said that the state threatened their water rights that year because of excess over flow. Basically they were told to collect and use every ounce, or else.

I can't help but think that they haven't effected the water levels at the lake as well as ground water for both Rush and Tooele valleys. And whoever owns the water rights in Rush Valley has probably had similar pressure put on them to use every ounce and not let any flow into Rush Lake.

solution buy some rights from grantsville and pipe some of that water back into rush

[JimSouthwick]

Any idea who first discovered Rush's windsurfing potential and in what year?

[lesvierra]

The first girl to ride an ozone instinct at rush and get her pic in Kiteboarding Magazine. Heather S. in the latest issue.

[Kenny]

this last spring Rick H and I were out at Grantsville and spoke with the lake caretaker who works for Grantsville Irrigation Company. He said that since 1983 the company has basically take all the water from those mountains to the west. Piped over from every canyon. He also said that the state threatened their water rights that year because of excess over flow. Basically they were told to collect and use every ounce, or else.

Josh, that theory rings true with me. We have had two exceptional water years and the lake level did not increase compared to the prior drought years. I think the runoff is not making it to Rush. The only way we are going to see the level dramatically increase is if the amount of precipitation in the lower valleys increases, not just in the mountains. Probably, will never happen. Rush is probably destined to be a mud-slick for kiters, unless the Sierra Club or some other enviromental group gets involved. Perhaps, there is an endangered animal that only lives at Rush? I have noticed a lot of fowl while I have been kiteboarding there. If we can convince the right agency that the future of this wetlands is endangered, we might get some more water flowing. Of course, then we run the risk of not being able to ride there because we might disturb the wildlife!

Kenny

[Josh Shirley]

Windsurfing in Utah has pretty much dried up with the lake. So maybe we could get a group to protect us. We might not be endangered fowl but we smell foul. Many of the windsurfers here are referred to as the mudrats. The lake has dried up and windsurfing in Utah has pretty much become extinct, all the foul mudrats drive to other states to get their fix.

There used to be a flock of pelicans there. They probably haven't come back since there are no more fish.

[jason morton]

Young Josh, this is your father, come to the dark side and we can rule the universe. The Sith lord Palpatine (Kenny), is waiting for you at the outer planet Rush.

[Kenny]

Jason - thank you for the compliment - Lord of the Sith, has a nice ring to it.

Come my padawon and get slimed in the remnants of a once great pond that has been left to die in the blistering sun. Remove the fins from your board and feel the power of the Force (wind) as it lifts you above the muck and filth.