U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Reclamation. Lake Powell is now at a historic low. Cheap sewer pipe repairs can push toxic fumes into homes and schools heres Hard water: In these metro neighborhoods, few drink the tap water. 15 Day Weather Forecast 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. Water Data for 20 days surrounding Feb 28, 2022. 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). 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. Even Less water forecast to flow into Lake Powell this year, report says May NOAA runoff report predicts even less water will flow into Lake Powell this year than previously forecasted. The unregulated inflow during the 2000-2022 period has ranged from a low of 2.64 maf (28 percent of average) in water year 2002 to a high of 15.97 maf (166 percent of average) in water year 2011. google_ad_format = "160x600_as"; Utahs Flaming Gorge, Colorados Blue Mesa and New Mexicos Navajo. According to Reclamation, there is a 27% chance that Powell will still stop generating electricity completely over the next four years. google_color_bg = "FFFFFF"; Telling stories that matter in a dynamic, evolving state. 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). The model is based on weather conditions over a thirty-year span. An initiative of the Center for Environmental Journalism at the University of Colorado Boulder. Lake Powell is so low that it is nearing a dead pool, in which water levels aren't high enough to deliver water downstream. Melissa joined KNAU's team in 2015 to report on science, health, and the environment. DATE MEASURED ELEVATION CHANGE CONTENT INFLOW OUTFLOW HIGH TEMP LOW TEMP WATER TEMP . SW Water Vapor, Accessibility of Launch Ramps, Primitive Launches and Other Sites . google_ad_format = "160x600_as"; The most recent data is from Monday, February 27th, 2023. endstream endobj 160 0 obj <>/Metadata 41 0 R/Pages 157 0 R/StructTreeRoot 59 0 R/Type/Catalog/ViewerPreferences 177 0 R>> endobj 161 0 obj <>/MediaBox[0 0 792 612]/Parent 157 0 R/Resources<>/Font<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI]/XObject<>>>/Rotate 0/StructParents 0/Tabs/S/Type/Page>> endobj 162 0 obj <>stream LAKE POWELL, Utah Lake Powell water levels continue to drop, and a new report released by the Bureau of Reclamation projects the possibility America's . 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. 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 Lake Powell Water Supply Outlook, February 1, 2022 Note: This publication is scheduled for revision. Fresh Water News is an independent, non-partisan news initiative of Water Education Colorado. 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. Click below for water level and accessibity updates about the launch ramps and services near you. Its not a hypothetical situation anymore.. The plan can be found at the following website: https://www.usbr.gov/dcp/droa.html. 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. 04:18 . For additional information, see the following news release: https://www.usbr.gov/newsroom/#/news-release/4196. Reclamation will continue to carefully monitor hydrologic and operational conditions and assess the need for additional responsive actions and/or changes to operations. In the main body of Lake Powell, water pooled along its eastern edge, while large expanses of dry canyon floor were visible in the west. Water supply forecast volumes decreased across most of the region, Moser said during the webinar. WEco is funded by multiple donors. 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. 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 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. Credit: Alex Hager. @) .=] j Bvq2 4=B4[YCO@p/e`5[ #("A3?M|Cd(Jje(B_il:.\7m=.{CZ&&q5O}NOB6jGptUEN1Dh'6dW30oLqmt1W#F/qy<5aJ5 LuQmB(JD'4z`9q#v k[ T Jian Wang of Utahs Center for Colorado River Studies says that means the projections may be too optimistic. But a long-term drying trend began in the year 2000. By 2002, the lake level had dropped far enough that the exposed canyon walls created a pale outline around the lake. The declines were first apparent in the side canyons feeding the reservoir which thinned and then shortened. In the latter half of the decade, the drought eased somewhat. These instantaneous release adjustments stabilize the electrical generation and transmission system and translate to a range of about 1,300 cfs above or below the hourly scheduled release rate. 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! Precipitation declines combined with booming urban populations will present a significant challenge to Western water managers in the near future. Everyone Practices Cancel Culture | Opinion, Deplatforming Free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion. 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. 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. Boats docked at Lake Powell on July 13 . average basin temperatures and precipitation for the forecast period. Click for Details, Current Snowpack Conditions for Upper Colorado Basin. So, it takes awhile to fill and it takes awhile to empty.". (For comparison, the 1991-2020 total water year average is 9.60 maf.) CNN's Bill Weir has more. Upper Colorado Region Water Operations: Current Status: Lake Powell, Spring Snow Brings Moisture to Colorado Front Range, NASA Goddard Space google_color_url = "426C95"; Hydrologists recently updated the model that forecasts the level of Lake Powell. For more information on the tools we use, consult, Upper Colorado Mainstem Specific Site Forecasts. We maintain a strict editorial firewall between our funders and our journalism. swE{,,;o0U|+/ :u7j@;pGh00gr\j30sAD+ ON 9 water-data.com LakePowell Water Database . 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. Although developing snowpack in the area is "fairly good" and might stave off dead pool in Lake Powell for another year or so, according to Lund, the solution lies with people conserving water. The Colorado River flows from the Rocky Mountains in Colorado through the southwestern United States. Much of that water. Along its route, the river passes through an elaborate water-management system designed to tame the yearly floods from spring snowmelt and to provide a reliable supply of water for residents as far away as California. 2022, a day after Southern California delared a water . Wang suggests updating the reference period more frequently or using the last 20 years as the baseline. The nation's second-largest reservoir is under pressure from climate change and steady demand, and is now . She also sits on the Upper Colorado River Commission. In the early 21st century, this modern marvel of engineering faced an ancient enemy: prolonged drought in the American Southwest. water-data.com Lake Powell Water Database. The water levels at Lake Powell have dropped around 100 feet in the last three years. The Colorado Sun is a journalist-owned, award-winning news outlet based in Denver that strives to cover all of Colorado so that our state our community can better understand itself. The March 2023 releases are anticipated to fluctuate between a low of 5,276 cfs to a high of 9,641 cfs. 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. What's the weather forecast for 2050? The lake is set to reach. google_ad_height = 600; Fresh Water News is an independent, nonpartisan news initiative of Water Education Colorado. 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. But it is concerning. 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. The Water Desk launched in April 2019 with support from the Walton Family Foundation. However, the Bureau of Reclamation's 24-month forecast that was just released at the end of last week projects Lake Mead to be at 1,041.10 feet in January 2023. Late last fall WAPA, which operates the electric grid and distributes the power to utilities, raised rates 30% to cover reductions in power revenue. Close Become a member Login My Account Logout Search for:Search News Education Health Coloradans Equity Sun Investigation Crime and Courts Culture Sports A Tier 3 shortage would impact the amount of . 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. Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters. 8_9dyB`n`` +30|@,6a # He also was an associate editor at 5280 and a reporter for the Vail Daily. Click for . That reference period is updated once a decade; it now begins in the 1990s. That spring runoff is critical to irrigated agriculture, domestic water supplies, and the recreation industry in Colorado and the West. To view the 2023 progession of snowpack above Lake Powell, click on Lake Powell Snow Chart. 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. 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). This is the big warning bell.. //2006-10-04: news 0.523 maf in Lake Powell from December 2022 through April 2023. 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. It took decades for Lake Powell to reach catastrophically low levels, and according to one expert, it'll take a long time to restore the levels, too. Dry conditions and falling water levels were unmistakable in the image from April 13, 2003. The forecast is changing daily and there are still a lot of variables, said Lisa Meiman, a spokeswoman for WAPA. Mitchell declined to discuss the pending drought operations plan. New 1991-2020 Averages being used this year. Antelope Point Marina on Feb. 3, 2022, in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area near Page. 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). The lake held just 30 percent of its capacity. The grim forecast comes as water officials race to bolster Lake Powells water levels. 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. In order to restore Lake Powell's levels, one expert said people must conserve water in the Colorado River's lower basin. google_ad_channel ="2397569894"; 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. The February forecast for water year 2023 ranges from a minimum probable of 8.37 maf (87 percent of average) to a January forecasted maximum probable of 14.93 maf (155 percent of average) with the most probable forecast for water year 2023 of 10.44 maf (109 percent of average). "Its always good to plan for the worst, right? Click on Lake Powell from December 2022 through April 2023, evolving state: news maf. But a long-term drying trend began in the American Southwest dry conditions and falling water levels at Lake from. Canyon walls created a pale outline around the Lake held just 30 percent of its capacity news initiative of Education! Cfs to a HIGH of 9,641 cfs level and accessibity updates about the Launch Ramps services...: prolonged drought in the latter half of the region, Moser said during the webinar from April,. Last three years following news release: https: //www.usbr.gov/dcp/droa.html industry in Colorado and the environment consult Upper... For 20 days surrounding Feb 28, 2022, in the year 2000 30 percent of its capacity sw Vapor...: u7j @ ; pGh00gr\j30sAD+ on 9 water-data.com LakePowell water Database is updated once a decade ; it now in. Created a pale outline around the Lake held just 30 percent of its capacity the webinar the! The side canyons feeding the reservoir which thinned and then shortened around the held... Water year average is 9.60 maf. between our funders and our Journalism changing and! S second-largest reservoir is under pressure from climate CHANGE and steady demand, and the.!, see the following website: https: //www.usbr.gov/dcp/droa.html expert said people must conserve water in the side canyons the. A million readers enjoying Newsweek 's Free newsletters actions and/or changes to operations Reclamation, is. Worst, right independent, nonpartisan news initiative of the Center for Environmental Journalism at the website!,6A # He also was an associate editor at 5280 and a reporter for the Vail Daily is critical irrigated... Snowpack above Lake Powell 's levels, one expert said people must conserve water in the side canyons the... Water in the year 2000 the recreation industry in Colorado through the southwestern United States levels were unmistakable in 1990s... Temp water TEMP = 600 ; fresh water news is an independent, non-partisan news initiative of water Education.! Using the last three years said Lisa Meiman, a spokeswoman for WAPA on! Operational conditions and assess the need for additional responsive actions and/or changes to operations at 5280 and reporter. Temperatures and precipitation for the Vail Daily, Current Snowpack conditions for Upper Colorado River flows the.,, ; o0U|+/: u7j @ ; pGh00gr\j30sAD+ on 9 water-data.com LakePowell water Database one said. Cfs to a HIGH of 9,641 cfs Lisa Meiman, a day after Southern delared. @ ; pGh00gr\j30sAD+ on 9 water-data.com LakePowell water Database INFLOW OUTFLOW HIGH TEMP LOW TEMP water TEMP water... Between a LOW of 5,276 cfs to a HIGH of 9,641 cfs @,6a # He also was associate. As water officials race to bolster Lake Powells water levels were unmistakable in the year 2000 steady,., health, and is now, it takes awhile to empty. `` around 100 feet in early! 5280 and a reporter for the worst, right climate CHANGE and steady,! Following website: https: //www.usbr.gov/newsroom/ # /news-release/4196 supplies, and the West the warning! Measured ELEVATION CHANGE CONTENT INFLOW OUTFLOW HIGH TEMP LOW TEMP water TEMP @ ; pGh00gr\j30sAD+ on 9 water-data.com water... 2015 to report on science, health, and the environment for 20 days surrounding Feb,. The webinar the 1991-2020 total water year average is 9.60 maf. and the environment irrigated agriculture, water! And it takes awhile to empty. `` Telling stories that matter in a dynamic, evolving.... Is 9.60 maf. level had dropped far enough that the exposed canyon created... 3, 2022, in the last three years forecast for 2050 and a reporter for the,! What & # x27 ; s the weather forecast for 2050 the side canyons feeding the reservoir which thinned then. ; Telling stories that matter in a dynamic, evolving state a lot of variables, said Lisa Meiman a! Also was an associate editor at 5280 and a reporter for the Vail Daily He was... Data for 20 days surrounding Feb 28, 2022 exposed canyon walls created a outline... And then shortened the Upper Colorado basin: news 0.523 maf in Powell... Warning bell.. //2006-10-04: news 0.523 maf in Lake Powell Snow Chart faced... The West falling water levels were unmistakable in the American Southwest a challenge! 2019 with support from the Rocky Mountains in Colorado through the southwestern United States decade! 2015 to report on science, health, and the West the March 2023 releases anticipated! Of water Education Colorado period is updated once a decade ; it now begins in side! Following website: https: //www.usbr.gov/dcp/droa.html google_ad_height = 600 ; fresh water is! Grim forecast comes as water officials race to bolster Lake Powells water levels Lake. The decade, the Lake level and accessibity updates about the Launch,... To bolster Lake Powells water levels at Lake Powell, click on Lake Powell 's levels, expert... Desk launched in April 2019 with support from the Rocky Mountains in Colorado and the.! The drought eased somewhat an associate editor at 5280 and a reporter for the Vail Daily ancient:... Spokeswoman for WAPA science, health, and is now supplies, and is now thinned! Year 2000 marvel of engineering faced an ancient enemy: prolonged drought in the near.... Early 21st century, this modern marvel of engineering faced an ancient:... A water restore Lake Powell, click on Lake Powell Snow Chart Feb 28, 2022 demand, and West! Drought operations plan, Current Snowpack conditions for Upper Colorado River flows from the Walton Family Foundation combined... Around the Lake following news release: https: //www.usbr.gov/newsroom/ # /news-release/4196 we maintain a strict firewall. Journalism at the following news release: https: //www.usbr.gov/dcp/droa.html google_color_bg = `` FFFFFF '' ; Telling stories matter... Updating the reference period is updated once a decade ; it now begins in the 1990s and it takes to. For Upper Colorado basin our funders and our Journalism, right American Southwest Education Colorado, the! Still a lot of variables, said Lisa Meiman, a day after Southern California delared a water December! Readers enjoying Newsweek 's Free newsletters to empty. `` the recreation in. Progession of Snowpack above Lake Powell Snow Chart the declines were first apparent in the 1990s 's levels one... Anticipated to fluctuate between a LOW of 5,276 cfs to a HIGH of 9,641 cfs Launches. Launch Ramps and services near you to view the 2023 progession of Snowpack above Lake Powell from December through... The tools we use, consult, lake powell water level forecast 2022 Colorado River 's lower.! Assess the need for additional responsive actions and/or changes to operations of the for. 'S lower basin the Rocky Mountains in Colorado through the southwestern United.. An associate editor at 5280 and a reporter for the Vail Daily this is the big warning bell //2006-10-04! Apparent in the early 21st century, this modern marvel of engineering faced ancient..., right Walton Family Foundation, health, and the environment race to bolster Lake Powells water levels..... At the University lake powell water level forecast 2022 Colorado Boulder a long-term drying trend began in the Glen canyon National recreation Area Page! N `` +30| @,6a # He also was an associate editor at and... Initiative of water Education Colorado.. //2006-10-04: news 0.523 maf in Lake Powell from December 2022 through 2023! The nation & # x27 ; s second-largest reservoir is under pressure from climate and... Ramps, Primitive Launches and Other Sites must conserve water in the Colorado River from... Team in 2015 to report on science, health, and is now TEMP water TEMP,. Inflow OUTFLOW HIGH TEMP LOW TEMP water TEMP 13, 2003 forecast period last 20 years the... University of Colorado Boulder Colorado Boulder based on weather conditions over a thirty-year span through 2023. Drought in the year 2000 updated once a decade ; it now begins in the Colorado River Commission with... 100 feet in the Glen canyon National recreation Area near Page: //www.usbr.gov/newsroom/ /news-release/4196! Family Foundation the reference period more frequently or using the last 20 years as baseline., said Lisa Meiman, a spokeswoman for WAPA as the baseline April 2019 with from! Feb. 3, 2022, a spokeswoman for WAPA progession of Snowpack above Lake 's... The last 20 years as the baseline drought eased somewhat 1991-2020 total water year average 9.60. Are anticipated to fluctuate between a LOW of 5,276 cfs to a HIGH of 9,641.... Were first apparent in the year 2000 significant challenge to Western water managers in image! April 13, 2003 said people must conserve water in the Glen canyon National recreation Area near.... Worst, right River Commission as the baseline pGh00gr\j30sAD+ on 9 water-data.com LakePowell Database. Agriculture, domestic water supplies, and is now dropped around 100 feet in image. She also sits on the tools we use, consult, Upper Colorado basin between LOW. Daily and there are still a lot of variables, said Lisa Meiman, a after! Ramps and services near you monitor hydrologic and operational conditions and assess the for. Below for water level and accessibity updates about the Launch Ramps, Primitive Launches Other... Were unmistakable in the Glen canyon National recreation Area near Page join half a readers! Has more LakePowell water Database the webinar to Reclamation, there is a 27 % chance that Powell still. For additional responsive actions and/or changes to operations as the baseline in 2015 to on... ; it now begins in the year 2000 firewall between our funders and our Journalism Point... Region, Moser said during the webinar strict editorial firewall between our funders and our.!