The water levels at Lake Powell have dropped around 100 feet in the last three years. Arizona Public Radio | Your Source for NPR News, PublishedFebruary 28, 2022 at 5:00 AM MST. https://www.usbr.gov/newsroom/news-release/4294, https://www.usbr.gov/newsroom/#/news-release/4196, USGS site #09180500 - Colorado River near Cisco, UT, USGS site #09315000 - Green River at Green River, UT, USGS site #09379500 - San Juan River near Bluff, UT, USGS site #09380000 - Colorado River at Lees Ferry, AZ, Snowpack Conditions Upper Colorado Region Above Lake Powell, Lake Powell Inflow Forecast April-July Inflow Forecast, Current Water Year Inflow Forecast Monthly Outlooks, Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Program, LTEMP - Long-Term Experimental & Management Plan, Report to Congress - Operations of Glen Canyon Dam - Water Year 2015-2016, National Park Service Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, National Park Service Grand Canyon National Park, U.S. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Wind affected on the west and south facing aspects of the Gore Range seen on, April 7, 2022, near Vail. google_color_url = "426C95"; This level is actually .02 feet . This article contains new, firsthand information uncovered by its reporter(s). A 59% flow into Powell translates to about 3.8 million acre-feet. Low water effects to launch ramps and services top Lake Powell Elevation (05/18/2022) 3526.05 ft Stay in the know! New 1991-2020 Averages being used this year. google_ad_width = 160; Jerd Smith is editor of Fresh Water News. Across most of the streams and rivers of the Upper Basin, forecasted runoff ranges from very poor (50% of average) to mediocre (80% of average).. This was the lowest water levels have been since the lake was first constructed in the 1930s. The Upper Basin reservoirs have already provided 161,000 acre-feet of water pursuant to the imminent need provision of the Drought Response Operations Agreement, including 36,000 acre-feet from Blue Mesa Reservoir in Colorado. Lake Powell is so low that it is nearing a dead pool, in which water levels aren't high enough to deliver water downstream. It can store about five times the average annual flow. It will be among the lowest years of generation ever, said Nick Williams, power manager for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamations Upper Colorado River Region in an interview last week. The most probable inflow scenario reflects a median hydrologic condition which statistically would be exceeded 50 percent of the time. At the west end of Narrow Canyon, the Dirty Devil River joins the lake from the north. Under system normal conditions, fluctuations for regulation are typically short lived and generally balance out over the hour with minimal or no noticeable impacts on downstream river flow conditions. Part of the Glen Canyon Conservancy Family, Utah D.O.T Charles Hall Ferry for UT Route 276. google_ad_type = "text_image"; But the 30-year period is the standard reference worldwide and captures more variability, according to Paul Miller of the Colorado Basin River Forecast Center. Human actions created the Salton Sea, Californias largest lake heres Scientists studying water supply focus on weeks following peak snowpack. By May 1, the spring-summer runoff outcomes are pretty well locked in, which means theres virtually no escape from a third poor runoff year in a row, Jeff Lukas, an independent water and climate researcher based in Lafayette, said in an email. Official Glen Canyon National Recreation Area Changing Lake Levels Info. The bureau, in consultation with tribal nations and the seven Colorado River Basin states, decided to keep nearly 500,000 acre-feet of water in Lake Powell that had originally been planned to be released to the Lower Basin states of Nevada, Arizona and California this year. View CFS Last 14 Measurements Lake Powell is down -1.03 feet over these measurements Averages for February 27th Last 10 February 27th's data records If you have feedback on content, format, or publication frequency, please contact us. Learn more at, Photos: Heron Lake, New Mexico, August 2022, Data viz: Elephant Butte Reservoir levels, to increase the volume, depth and power of journalism, https://www.watereducationcolorado.org/fresh-water-news/, www.watereducationcolorado.org/fresh-water-news/. Back then, Hannegan said, We made an assumption that our WAPA (Western Area Power Administration) allocation would be firm, reliable and always there. Consistent with Section 6.D.1 of the Interim Guidelines, Lake Powells operations in water year 2023 are governed by the Lower Elevation Balancing Tier (LEBT) with an initial projected water year release volume of 7.00 maf. Lund said that throughout the reservoir's history, it has refilled to its original levels just once. GCC is the official nonprofit partner of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area & Rainbow Bridge National Monument. 04:12 - Source: CNN Precipitation was better, but still slightly below normal in the Upper Colorado River Basin. As of September 20, 2021, the water elevation at Glen Canyon Dam was 3,546.93 feet, more than 153 feet below "full pool" (elevation 3,700 feet). Chris Outcalt covers Western water issues for The Colorado Sun. Based on current inflow forecasts, the current projected end of water year 2023 total Colorado Basin reservoir storage is approximately 20.93 maf (36 percent of total system capacity). Upper Colorado River Basin regularly experiences significant year to year hydrologic variability. The Colorado River flows in from the east around Mille Crag Bend and is swallowed by the lake. Another 480 kaf will be left in Lake Powell by reducing Glen Canyon Dams annual release volume from 7.48 maf to 7.0 maf, as outlined in the 2007 Interim Guidelines that control operations of Glen Canyon Dam and Hoover Dam. Since the beginning of water year 2000, total Colorado Basin storage has experienced year to year increases and decreases in response to wet and dry hydrology, ranging from a high of 94 percent of capacity at the beginning of 2000 to the now current level of 33 percent of capacity at the beginning of water year 2023. For more information on the tools we use, consult, Upper Colorado Mainstem Specific Site Forecasts. What's the weather forecast for 2050? Depending on the severity of the system emergency, the response from Glen Canyon Dam can be significant, within the full range of the operating capacity of the power plant for as long as is necessary to maintain balance in the transmission system. The grim forecast comes as water officials race to bolster Lake Powell's water levels. We maintain a strict editorial firewall between our funders and our journalism. 15 Day Weather Forecast SW Satellite Weather SW Water Vapor Lake Powell is down 6.18 feet from one year ago. Water levels in Narrow Canyon had dropped enough to show canyon floor features not visible in earlier images. :pNB/gb2D0p6Ecb :qD_q7wE42TOOSW:Oa^(-]p7y|iZ.8uq:}1y3bJ]!G ) ytRdJp2 +[|}QpEU}V'k{yeKud"xl_-x lJ!UZ`,n!\3{dcb Everyone Practices Cancel Culture | Opinion, Deplatforming Free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion. Click for . Scientists say the current drought is the driest on record in the last twelve hundred years. Its better than last year, but well just have to see what the next two to four weeks holds for precipitation.. The deep, narrow, meandering reservoir extends upstream into southern Utah. From there, a swing to the northeast delivers boats into Lake Powell's main artery. The Glen Canyon Dam annual release has initially been set to 7.00 maf, and in April 2023 Reclamation will evaluate hydrologic conditions to determine if balancing releases may be appropriate under the conditions established in the 2007 Interim Guidelines; Balancing releases will be limited (with a minimum of 7.00 maf) to protect Lake Powell from declining below elevation 3,525 feet at the end of December 2023; Balancing releases will take into account operational neutrality of the 0.480 maf that was retained in Lake Powell under the. "As a result of this update, the median water year 2022 inflow forecast into Lake Powell decreased by 800,000 acre-feet," USBR stated in a press release distributed Thursday. In the early 21st century, this modern marvel of engineering faced an ancient enemy: prolonged drought in the American Southwest. He said the soil moisture conditions were still well below normal across western Colorado, particularly in the southwest part of the state. Water levels in Lake Powell dropped to a new record low on Tuesday. google_ad_format = "160x600_as"; She can be reached at 720-398-6474, via email atjerd@wateredco.orgor @jerd_smith. SW Water Vapor, Accessibility of Launch Ramps, Primitive Launches and Other Sites "This is probably the largest reservoir system in the country in terms of storage. As the forecast season progresses, Previous forecasts showed this was possible and the Bureau of Reclamation announced on March 4 that a . "Its always good to plan for the worst, right? Click below for water level and accessibity updates about the launch ramps and services near you. Click for Details, Current Snowpack Conditions for Upper Colorado Basin. An acre-foot is the amount of water needed to fill one acre of land to a height of one foot. Projections of end of water year 2023 elevation using the February minimum and January maximum inflow forecast results are 3,544.04 feet and 3,582.24 feet, respectively. google_color_border = "FFFFFF"; Click below for water level and accessibity updates about the launch ramps and services near you. For additional information, the news release can be found here: https://www.usbr.gov/newsroom/news-release/4294. The last couple months have steadied out a little bit, Cody Moser, a senior hydrologist with NOAA forecast center, said during a recent web briefing to review the most recent report. Upper Colorado Region Water Operations: Current Status: Lake Powell, Spring Snow Brings Moisture to Colorado Front Range, NASA Goddard Space The picture was much different 59 years ago, when the giant storage reservoir on the Colorado River was filling, its electricity helping power the West and the revenue from its power sales helping fund endangered fish protection programs across the Colorado River Basin. 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. Telling stories that matter in a dynamic, evolving state. Gas Prices on Lake Even in low emission climate scenarios (forecasts that are based on the assumption that future carbon dioxide emissions will increase relatively slowly), models predict precipitation may decline by 20-25 percent over most of California, southern Nevada, and Arizona by the end of this century. But generally below-normal precipitation the last several months after a very wet December.. Glen Canyon Dam currently maintains 30 mw (approximately 800 cfs) of generation capacity in reserve in order to respond to a system emergency even when generation rates are already high. google_ad_height = 600; In addition to daily scheduled fluctuations for power generation, the instantaneous releases from Glen Canyon Dam may also fluctuate to provide 40 megawatts (MW) of system regulation. The water level in Lake Powell was at a record low when rain and snow began to fall across the Colorado River Basin in October, soaking dry soils ahead of the winter season. To view the 2023 progession of snowpack above Lake Powell, click on Lake Powell Snow Chart. Federal and state water managers have watched the water level in Lake Powell closely this year. The Water Desks mission isto increase the volume, depth and power of journalismconnected to Western water issues. The annual release volume from Lake Powell during water year 2023 will be 7.77 maf under the Lower Elevation Balancing Tier and will balance the contents between Powell and Mead with annual release volumes from Glen Canyon Dam between 7.00 maf and 9.50 maf as determined under Section 6.D.1 and 7.D of the Interim Guidelines as determined by the Department of the Interior as described above. WEco is funded by multiple donors. However, these responses can have a noticeable impact on the river downstream of Glen Canyon Dam. levels. As air warms over time, less precipitation makes it to the reservoirs due to evaporation. So, it takes awhile to fill and it takes awhile to empty.". As of Tuesday, February 28th, 2023 where elevation was 3521.04', Copyright Summit Technologies, Inc.1999 - 2023Site Views Today: 0Page Views Today: 0, The 28 tracked reservoirs above Lake Powell are currently at 58.69% of capacity. Releases from Glen Canyon Dam can also fluctuate beyond scheduled releases when called upon to respond to unscheduled power outages or power system emergencies. 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. The drop in the power forecast comes as Upper Colorado River Basin states of Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming prepare to finalize a new drought operations plan for the giant river system. Changes in the northeastern reaches of Lake Powell are documented in this series of natural-color images taken by the Landsat series of satellites between 1999 and 2021. This 2022 Plan is described above and available for review here: https://www.usbr.gov/dcp/droa.html. //-->, Printable Version Last Reading: 3521.11 on Feb 27, 2023 Powell was last within 2" of this elevation on Feb 26, 2023 There are currently 1,734,731,016,499 gallons of water in Lake Powell! Lake Powell has fallen victim to excessive water use as a 20-year drought parches the region. To view the most current monthly release projections, click on: Lake Powell Release Projections. The model is based on weather conditions over a thirty-year span. Detailed Map of Powell Based on the current forecast of 10.44 maf unregulated inflow for water year 2023, the February 24-Month Study projects Lake Powell elevation will end water year 2023 near 3555.45 feet with approximately 7.47 maf in storage (32 percent of capacity). google_ad_client = "pub-0146338466817273"; (At normal water levels, both rivers are essentially part of the reservoir.) Fish & Wildlife Service Endangered Species Success Stories. Lake Powell was at 26% of capacity, 168 feet below its full elevation of 3,700 feet above sea level at . The lake held just 30 percent of its capacity. Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters. Lake Powells side branches had all retreated compared to the previous years extents. The Colorado River cuts through dry land that was once covered by Lake Powell on September 7, 2022, near Hite, Utah. The lake level began to rebound; only the 2008 image appeared to deviate from the trend toward rising water levels. The forecast for water year 2023 unregulated inflow to Lake Powell, issued on January 5, 2023, by the Colorado Basin River Forecast Center, projects that the most probable (median) unregulated inflow volume in water year 2023 will be 9.5 maf (99 percent of average). Prepared by Ashley Nielson NOAA, National Weather Service Colorado Basin River Forecast Center Salt Lake City, Utah www.cbrfc.noaa.gov Contents 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. Now, though, we know that its not firm, its not reliable, and its coming at a much higher cost.. Committee on the Scientific Bases of Colorado River Basin Water Management, National Research Council. Up to 80 percent of water use in the basin is for agricultural purposes, but urban water conservation serves an important purpose, too. n$L{Z. The actual end of water year 2023 system storage may vary from this projection, primarily due to uncertainty regarding this seasons runoff and reservoir inflow. Were going to be generating less than we have in quite some time. In January, following the wet December Moser noted, the NOAA forecast called for 98% of the 30-year average to reach Powell. Were an initiative of theCenter for Environmental Journalismat the University of Colorado Boulder. The August 2022 24-Month Study modeled 2023 and 2024 operations at Lakes Powell and Mead as if the 0.480 maf had been delivered to Lake Mead for operating tier/condition purposes both for the U.S. Lower Basin and for Mexico. The probable minimum and probable maximum model runs are conducted simultaneously in January, April, August, and October, or when necessary to incorporate changing conditions. A Tier 3 shortage would impact the amount of . To view the current inflow forecast relative to past inflows, click on Lake Powell Inflow Forecast. That spring runoff is critical to irrigated agriculture, domestic water supplies, and the recreation industry in Colorado and the West. DATE MEASURED ELEVATION CHANGE CONTENT INFLOW OUTFLOW HIGH TEMP LOW TEMP WATER TEMP . Correction: This article has been corrected to indicate that Lake Powell began filling 59 years ago, not 60 years, as the original article stated. Lake Powell Water Level including historical chart. Lake Powell is currently 390.33 feet deep at the dam. Snow levels will fall to the lowest locations Wednesday night into Thursday morning, before the storm exits eastern Arizona Thursday afternoon. | 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 . Last Reading: 3522.33 on Feb 12, 2023. In the latter half of the decade, the drought eased somewhat. Together with the release of more water into Lake Powell from an upstream dam, the decision will keep the lake at a level at which it can continue generating hydropower for the next 12 months. An initiative of the Center for Environmental Journalism at the University of Colorado Boulder. These projections are critical for planning for an increasingly dry future in the Colorado River Basin, but a new paper from Utah State University says the model may still underestimate the risk. water-data.com LakePowell Water Database . In water year 2021 unregulated inflow volume to Lake Powell was 3.50 maf (36 percent of average), the second driest year on record above 2002. We have to take a strong look at what we will do in the unlikely event that Lake Powell stops producing hydropower, said WAPAs Meiman. At the beginning of water year 2023, total system storage in the Colorado River Basin was 19.54 maf (33 percent of 58.48 maf total system capacity). 159 0 obj <> endobj Climate change also plays a part. The northwestern side branch of Lake Powell remained cut off from the rest of the reservoir. Lake Powell
