She can be reached at 720-398-6474, via email atjerd@wateredco.orgor @jerd_smith. endstream endobj startxref google_ad_width = 160; Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters. 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. The Colorado River flows in from the east around Mille Crag Bend and is swallowed by the lake. Low water effects to launch ramps and services top Lake Powell Elevation (05/18/2022) 3526.05 ft Stay in the know! The water levels at Lake Powell have dropped around 100 feet in the last three years. She grew up in Tucson, Arizona, where she fell in love with the ecology and geology of the Sonoran desert. A powerful winter storm will enter AZ early Tuesday night with rain and snow showers increasing across the region after midnight. 8_9dyB`n`` +30|@,6a # This is the big warning bell.. CNN's Bill Weir has more. That projection is about 12 feet higher than the 2023 end-of-year mark in the bureau's forecast from December. Back then, Hannegan said, We made an assumption that our WAPA (Western Area Power Administration) allocation would be firm, reliable and always there. Powell was last within 2" of this elevation on Feb 11, 2023 There are currently 1,757,155,460,140 gallons of water in Lake Powell! We maintain a strict editorial firewall between our funders and our journalism. 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. 2022, a day after Southern California delared a water . google_ad_format = "160x600_as"; (For comparison, the 1991-2020 total water year average is 9.60 maf.) Detailed Map of Powell Antelope Point Launch Ramp Bullfrog Main Launch Ramp "I would be reluctant to limit it to years just since 2000, because I think there is some value in acknowledging the variability that goes on in our basin," he says. Water supply forecast volumes decreased across most of the region, Moser said during the webinar. 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. 15 Day Weather Forecast "We might get lucky with the weather, but the idea of the system recovering is really hard unless you reduce water use in that basin," Lund told Newsweek. But generally below-normal precipitation the last several months after a very wet December.. By 2002, the lake level had dropped far enough that the exposed canyon walls created a pale outline around the lake. It took decades for Lake Powell to reach catastrophically low levels, and according to one expert . Part of the Glen Canyon Conservancy Family, Utah D.O.T Charles Hall Ferry for UT Route 276. 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. Click for . 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! The lake level began to rebound; only the 2008 image appeared to deviate from the trend toward rising water levels. The reservoir's levels rise after consistent rain or snowpack melt in the area. 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). Last week, the Bureau of Reclamation announced extraordinary action to keep the water level at Powell from dropping too low, which could threaten hydropower production at Powells Glen Canyon Dam. In the image acquired on May 1, 2004, the reservoirs northwestern branch is isolated from the main reservoir; the shallow water upstream could not crest raised areas in the lakebed. With low-runoff conditions and . The deep, narrow, meandering reservoir extends upstream into southern Utah. The forecast is changing daily and there are still a lot of variables, said Lisa Meiman, a spokeswoman for WAPA. 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. The period 2000-2022 is the lowest 23-year period since the closure of Glen Canyon Dam in 1963, with an average unregulated inflow of 8.29 maf, or 93 percent of the 30-year average (1991-2020). The 30-year average was updated in October 2022 from 1981 through 2010 to 1991 through 2020. It wasnt just the Powell number that dipped, although the amount of runoff that makes its way to Powell each year is considered a good barometer for conditions basinwide. Some Arizona cities have implemented drought management plans to conserve water, but the area continues to use water at a rate that negates Lake Powell's recovery. Additionally, there are possible inflow scenarios that would result in reservoir elevations falling outside the ranges indicated in these reports. Lund said he expects water use in the basin to have "capped out," but the reservoir can't continue to supply water at the pace in which the area consumes it. 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. and last updated 5:24 PM, Sep 24, 2021. 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. " 9`SADP zg Ab``#@ 7 3 hVmO0+_'"Bi?H!R`Mkwj3#tq@x k8,Q\yDIU>H In the early years of this image series, water levels began to drop. This was the lowest water levels have been since the lake was first constructed in the 1930s. In addition to the February 2023 24-Month Study based on the Most Probable inflow scenario, and in accordance with the Drought Response Operational Agreement (DROA)), Reclamation has conducted model runs in February to determine a possible range of reservoir elevations. From there, a swing to the northeast delivers boats into Lake Powell's main artery. a greater portion of the future hydrologic and climatic uncertainty becomes known and Official Glen Canyon National Recreation Area Changing Lake Levels Info. On Tuesday, the lake fell below 3,525 feet above sea level, a key target elevation that water managers have been trying to keep Powell above because it provides a buffer from the minimum level at which Glen Canyon Dam can generate power. This level is actually .02 feet . Under the current most probable forecast, the total water year 2023 unregulated inflow to Lake Powell is projected to be 10.44 maf (109 percent of average). This is a decrease of 3.33 maf over the total storage at the beginning of water year 2022 when total system storage was 22.87 maf (39 percent of capacity). levels. Lake Powell water level at Wahweap Marina in September 2021 | Photo by Bureau of Reclamation, St. George News . Lake Powells side branches had all retreated compared to the previous years extents. The peak inflow to Lake Powell occurs in mid- to late spring, as the winter snow in the Rocky Mountains melts. 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. What's the weather forecast for 2050? There are continued discussions when and how that same amount of water (0.523 maf) will be . The bureau also announced it would release an additional 500,000 acre-feet of water from Flaming Gorge reservoir in Wyoming to further raise the water level at Powell. But it is concerning. 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. Climate change also plays a part. Hydrologists recently updated the model that forecasts the level of Lake Powell. WEco is funded by multiple donors. google_ad_channel ="2397569894"; Human actions created the Salton Sea, Californias largest lake heres Scientists studying water supply focus on weeks following peak snowpack. Credit: Alex Hager. Lukas noted that the dry soil conditions are factored into the NOAA runoff predictions from the get-go so there shouldnt necessarily be any big surprises with that particular variable. In the early 21st century, this modern marvel of engineering faced an ancient enemy: prolonged drought in the American Southwest. In order to restore Lake Powell's levels, one expert said people must conserve water in the Colorado River's lower basin. Note that projections of elevation and storage for water year 2023 have significant uncertainty at this point in the season. 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. She reported that, as of March 16, 2022, Lake Powell was at an elevation of 3,524.83 feet (ft.) with storage of 5.916 million acre-feet (maf) or 24 percent of capacity. The sediment-filled Colorado River appeared green-brown. Lake Mead was at elevation 1,064.30 ft. with storage of 8.753 maf or 34 percent of capacity. 04:12 - Source: CNN 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/. In the latter half of the decade, the drought eased somewhat. The March 2023 releases are anticipated to fluctuate between a low of 5,276 cfs to a high of 9,641 cfs. But the declining water already has drained some of the fun, he said. 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 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 system is appreciated for the water it supplies, but criticized for the environmental problems and cultural losses that have resulted from its creation. Detailed Map of Powell In July 2022, the lake reached a historic low of 1,040 feet above sea level. . "Its always good to plan for the worst, right? The critical issue is how to maintain the lake at 3,525, which marks an elevation that is the top of the liquid buffer zone designed to protect the lakes mighty electricity turbines. Correction: This article has been corrected to indicate that Lake Powell began filling 59 years ago, not 60 years, as the original article stated. U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Reclamation. Wednesday snow and wind will be heavy at times leading to difficult if not impossible travel. Lake Powell Water Level including historical chart. Shortages have been implemented by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation in areas like Arizona as water levels in the reservoir have consistently dropped for the past 10 years. If Glen Canyon Dam ceases to operate, we are going to have to replace that power somewhere else and it will have a bigger carbon footprint, said Bryan Hannegan, CEO of Holy Cross Energy, which buys Lake Powells hydropower to serve customers in Western Colorado. Click for Details, Current Snowpack Conditions for Upper Colorado Basin. So, it takes awhile to fill and it takes awhile to empty.". "This is probably the largest reservoir system in the country in terms of storage. Precipitation was better, but still slightly below normal in the Upper Colorado River Basin. The unregulated inflow volume to Lake Powell during January was 361 thousand acre-feet (kaf) (107 percent of average). Releases from Glen Canyon Dam can also fluctuate beyond scheduled releases when called upon to respond to unscheduled power outages or power system emergencies. 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). Precipitation declines combined with booming urban populations will present a significant challenge to Western water managers in the near future. google_ad_channel ="2397569894"; google_ad_height = 600; The Bureau of Reclamation announced on May 3, 2022, two separate urgent drought response actions that will help prop up Lake Powell by nearly 1 million acre-feet (maf) of water over the next 12 months (May 2022 through April 2023). Differences between the full period forecasts and the residual forecasts may not exactly equal the actual observed volumes due to rounding conventions (see Definitions section). //-->, Printable Version Under a Drought Contingency Plan adopted in 2019, approximately 500 thousand acre-feet (kaf) of water will come from Flaming Gorge Reservoir, located approximately 455 river miles upstream of Lake Powell. Upper Colorado River Basin regularly experiences significant year to year hydrologic variability. Despite those releases, Powell dropped below 3,525 last month, hitting 3,523, another historic drought landmark. 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). Hydrologists recently updated the model that forecasts the level of Lake Powell. As air warms over time, less precipitation makes it to the reservoirs due to evaporation. 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. He began his journalism career in New Hampshire, then moved West and became a reporter at the Lafayette News. //2006-10-04: news Gas Prices on Lake The May report, released last week, is the final runoff prediction for the season. More by Chris Outcalt, Got a story tip? Level 3 Shortage Condition 1,025 ft and below Elevation 1,090 ft Elevation 1,045 ft Historical Future google_color_text = "000000"; Mitchell declined to discuss the pending drought operations plan. 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. Among the dams on the Colorado is Arizonas Glen Canyon Dam, which creates Lake Powell. 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. The nation's second-largest reservoir is under pressure from climate change and steady demand, and is now . However, these responses can have a noticeable impact on the river downstream of Glen Canyon Dam. monthly forecasts become more accurate. Arizona Public Radio | Your Source for NPR News, PublishedFebruary 28, 2022 at 5:00 AM MST. 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. As the forecast season progresses, Historic drought landmark fluctuate between a low of 5,276 cfs to a high of 9,641 cfs releases from Glen Dam. More by Chris Outcalt, Got a story tip Conservancy Family, D.O.T. Deep, narrow, meandering reservoir extends upstream into Southern Utah swing to the previous years extents warms... Prolonged drought in the last three years, via email atjerd @ wateredco.orgor jerd_smith! Scheduled releases when called upon to respond to unscheduled power outages or power system.! Takes awhile to fill and it takes awhile to empty. `` feet above sea level in 2022! Levels Info services top Lake Powell 's levels, one expert said people conserve... 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