Among the dams on the Colorado is Arizona's Glen Canyon Dam, which creates Lake Powell. But in a statement, she said, The Upper Basin States are working collaboratively with the Bureau of Reclamation to draft a 2022 Drought Response Operations Plan outlining potential releases from Upper Basin reservoirs in an effort to protect critical elevations at Lake Powell. As a news piece, this article cites verifiable, third-party sources which have all been thoroughly fact-checked and deemed credible by the Newsroom in accordance with the Civil Constitution. We are 37% through the Water Year. hbbd``b`$WX)! 0 Reclamation will continue to carefully monitor hydrologic and operational conditions and assess the need for additional responsive actions and/or changes to operations. Close Become a member Login My Account Logout Search for:Search News Education Health Coloradans Equity Sun Investigation Crime and Courts Culture Sports Encompassing all or parts of Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Utah and Wyoming. Wednesday snow and wind will be heavy at times leading to difficult if not impossible travel. google_color_border = "FFFFFF"; Scientists say the current drought is the driest on record in the last twelve hundred years. google_color_url = "426C95"; A century of river flow records combined with an additional four to five centuries of tree-ring data show that the droughts over the past two decades were not unusual; longer and more severe droughts are a regular part of the climate variability in that part of the continent. By, What We Know, And What You Can Do To Help. SW Satellite Weather New 1991-2020 Averages being used this year. Electricity produced at Lake Powells Glen Canyon Dam, which serves some 50 Colorado utilities, and dozens of others in the Colorado River Basin, has been cut in half by the 20-year drought, with power levels over the next two years projected to be 47% lower than normal, according to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. The sediment-filled Colorado River appeared green-brown. The system is appreciated for the water it supplies, but criticized for the environmental problems and cultural losses that have resulted from its creation. By 2002, the lake level had dropped far enough that the exposed canyon walls created a pale outline around the lake. Reclamation will also ensure all appropriate consultation with Basin Tribes, the Republic of Mexico, other federal agencies, water users and non-governmental organizations with respect to implementation of these monthly and annual operations. | March 17, 2022, 6:57 a.m. As predicted, southern Utah's Lake Powell has fallen below a critical level that soon could threaten its ability . An acre-foot is the amount of water needed to fill one acre of land to a height of one foot. Hydrologists recently updated the model that forecasts the level of Lake Powell. Utahs Flaming Gorge, Colorados Blue Mesa and New Mexicos Navajo. The northwestern side branch of Lake Powell remained cut off from the rest of the reservoir. Telling stories that matter in a dynamic, evolving state. Using the approach described in the immediately preceding paragraph, the August 2022 24-Month Study projected the January 1, 2023, Lake Powell elevation to be less than 3,525 feet. Because the 2022 operations were designed to protect critical elevations at Lake Powell, Reclamation will implement Lower Elevation Balancing Tier operations in a way that continues to protect these critical elevations, or preserves the benefits of the 2022 operations to protect Lake Powell, in water year 2023. The reduction of releases from Lake Powell from 7.48 maf to 7.00 maf in water year 2022 resulted in a reduced release volume of 0.480 maf that normally would have been released from Glen Canyon Dam to Lake Mead as part of the 7.48 maf annual release volume, consistent with operations under the 2007 Interim Guidelines. Water levels in Narrow Canyon had dropped enough to show canyon floor features not visible in earlier images. He began his journalism career in New Hampshire, then moved West and became a reporter at the Lafayette News. Forecasts are calling for 4.1 million acre-feet of water to flow into Lake Powell from April to July this year, but water managers are obligated to release more than 7 million acre-feet out of the lake. Combined with water withdrawals that many believe are not sustainable, the drought has caused a dramatic drop in Lake Powells water level. He also was an associate editor at 5280 and a reporter for the Vail Daily. google_ad_channel ="2397569894"; On April 8, Reclamation announced it would likely keep more water in Lake Powell, reducing releases from the planned 7.5 million acre-feet to 7 million acre-feet, a move that could trigger emergency water cutbacks in Arizona, California and Nevada. water-data.com LakePowell Water Database . google_ad_type = "text_image"; The Bureau of Reclamation's most recent projections show Lake Mead dropping to 1,033.4 feet in elevation by the end of 2023, about 14 feet lower than the reservoir's current level. The peak inflow to Lake Powell occurs in mid- to late spring, as the winter snow in the Rocky Mountains melts. Both Moser and Lukas said that dry soil moisture conditions across the Colorado River Basin, which can sponge off valuable runoff before the water makes it into rivers and streams, wont be quite as bad as last year but will still be a negative factor. Lake Powell Water Level including historical chart. Back then, Hannegan said, We made an assumption that our WAPA (Western Area Power Administration) allocation would be firm, reliable and always there. The January 2023 24-Month Study probable maximum and the February 2023 24-Month Study probable minimum inflow scenarios were used to determine the range of probable outcomes. Up to 80 percent of water use in the basin is for agricultural purposes, but urban water conservation serves an important purpose, too. google_ad_client = "pub-0146338466817273"; Everyone Practices Cancel Culture | Opinion, Deplatforming Free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion. google_ad_height = 600; The lake is set to reach. //-->, Printable Version Cheap sewer pipe repairs can push toxic fumes into homes and schools heres Hard water: In these metro neighborhoods, few drink the tap water. We need to get ourselves prepared," he says. The unregulated inflow volume to Lake Powell during January was 361 thousand acre-feet (kaf) (107 percent of average). The plan can be found at the following website: https://www.usbr.gov/dcp/droa.html. google_color_bg = "FFFFFF"; The basin states, in a response letter, expressed concern that the water level of Lake Powell would decline below critical elevations, making the dam inoperable. //2006-10-04: news The forecast isnt great, said Kyle Whitaker, Colorado River Manager for the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District, one of the largest diverters of water in the headwaters region of the river. hVmO0+_'"Bi?H!R`Mkwj3#tq@x k8,Q\yDIU>H inflow forecast for water year 2022 by approximately 2.2 million acre-feet from . Hourly releases during February 2023 will fluctuate from a low of approximately 5,797 cfs during the early morning hours to a high of 10,091 cfs during the afternoon and evening hours. Colorado River Basin Water Management: Evaluating and Adjusting to Hydroclimatic Variability. What's the weather forecast for 2050? Across the region, water utilities are in high-alert mode, preparing for another dry year on the Colorado River and holding hope that the Upper Basin reservoirs can be protected as long as possible from large-scale drought releases. We are 41% through the Water Year. Last Reading: 3522.33 on Feb 12, 2023. Lake Powell has several launch ramps along its 186-mile length. Releases from Glen Canyon Dam can also fluctuate beyond scheduled releases when called upon to respond to unscheduled power outages or power system emergencies. Lake Powell
