In the early years of this image series, water levels began to drop. 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. Official Glen Canyon National Recreation Area Changing Lake Levels Info. The NOAA forecast center begins releasing monthly water supply forecasts for the Colorado River Basin in December. At the same time, electric utilities across the West are looking for other green options and hoping that hydropower production wont stop altogether. The deep, narrow, meandering reservoir extends upstream into southern Utah. The grim forecast comes as water officials race to bolster Lake Powell's water levels. Close Become a member Login My Account Logout Search for:Search News Education Health Coloradans Equity Sun Investigation Crime and Courts Culture Sports 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). 192 0 obj <>stream Lake Powell is so low that it is nearing a dead pool, in which water levels aren't high enough to deliver water downstream. google_color_border = "FFFFFF"; Upper Colorado River Basin regularly experiences significant year to year hydrologic variability. Everyone Practices Cancel Culture | Opinion, Deplatforming Free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion. (At normal water levels, both rivers are essentially part of the reservoir.) About 40 million people rely on the Colorado River for domestic use and farmers and ranchers use water from the river to irrigate more than 3 million acres of farmland. Shifting the period of record decreased the average unregulated inflow 1.20 maf. To view the most current reservoir elevation projections, click on: Lake Powell Elevation Projections. inflow forecast for water year 2022 by approximately 2.2 million acre-feet from . SW Satellite Weather The elevations listed in the August 2022 24-Month Study report reflected the projected physical elevations at each reservoir after implementing operations as described for water year 2023 tier determination purposes. The lake level began to rebound; only the 2008 image appeared to deviate from the trend toward rising water levels. Water supply forecast volumes decreased across most of the region, Moser said during the webinar. Water Data for 20 days surrounding Feb 28, 2022. Human actions created the Salton Sea, Californias largest lake heres Scientists studying water supply focus on weeks following peak snowpack. The probable minimum and probable maximum model runs are conducted simultaneously in January, April, August, and October, or when necessary to incorporate changing conditions. 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. Our editorial policy and donor list can be viewed atwateredco.org. 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 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. 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. She can be reached at 720-398-6474, via email atjerd@wateredco.orgor @jerd_smith. This 2022 Plan is described above and available for review here: https://www.usbr.gov/dcp/droa.html. 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. Hydrologists recently updated the model that forecasts the level of Lake Powell. But the declining water already has drained some of the fun, he said. While the lake was significantly higher in 2011 and 2012 than in 2005, a careful comparison of the side canyons reveals that the level was still not back to 1999 levels, when the lake was near full capacity. 8_9dyB`n`` +30|@,6a # 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. KNAU's Melissa Sevigny reports. Dry conditions and falling water levels were unmistakable in the image from April 13, 2003. 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. 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. 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. hb```)," Snow levels will fall to the lowest locations Wednesday night into Thursday morning, before the storm exits eastern Arizona Thursday afternoon. 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. Lake Powells water levels plummeted in early 2005, according to the U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Reclamation. Lake Powell Water Supply Outlook, February 1, 2022 Note: This publication is scheduled for revision. Part of the Glen Canyon Conservancy Family, Utah D.O.T Charles Hall Ferry for UT Route 276. Wang suggests updating the reference period more frequently or using the last 20 years as the baseline. 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 reservoir's levels rise after consistent rain or snowpack melt in the area. 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. 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. 15 Day Weather Forecast SW Satellite Weather SW Water Vapor Lake Powell is down 6.18 feet from one year ago. Fish & Wildlife Service Endangered Species Success Stories. levels. The declines were first apparent in the side canyons feeding the reservoir which thinned and then shortened. Lake Mead's water levels . Click below for water level and accessibity updates about the launch ramps and services near you. google_ad_format = "160x600_as"; 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. If you have feedback on content, format, or publication frequency, please contact us. The draft plan is expected to be released next week, according to Becki Bryant, a spokeswoman for Reclamations Upper Colorado River Region. Lund said that throughout the reservoir's history, it has refilled to its original levels just once. 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. Jerd Smith is editor of Fresh Water News. Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters. Correction: This article has been corrected to indicate that Lake Powell began filling 59 years ago, not 60 years, as the original article stated. 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. For additional information, the news release can be found here: https://www.usbr.gov/newsroom/news-release/4294. Lake Powell is at low for water year and down 9.26 feet from the high. n$L{Z. In the latter half of the decade, the drought eased somewhat. Lake Powell has several launch ramps along its 186-mile length. U.S. Arizona Drought Climate Change Water Conservation. 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. Among the dams on the Colorado is Arizonas Glen Canyon Dam, which creates Lake Powell. From there, a swing to the northeast delivers boats into Lake Powell's main artery. 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 Level including historical chart. Chris Outcalt covers Western water issues for The Colorado Sun. "These reservoirs are huge," Lund said. google_color_bg = "FFFFFF"; Note that projections of elevation and storage for water year 2023 have significant uncertainty at this point in the season. Releases from Glen Canyon Dam can also fluctuate beyond scheduled releases when called upon to respond to unscheduled power outages or power system emergencies. Last July, to protect the 3,525 buffer zone, Reclamation ordered emergency water releases from three reservoirs in the Upper Colorado River Basin. (2007). Lake Powell is currently 390.33 feet deep at the dam. 0.523 maf in Lake Powell from December 2022 through April 2023. U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Reclamation. The May report, released last week, is the final runoff prediction for the season. Click below for water level and accessibity updates about the launch ramps and services near you. 159 0 obj <> endobj 15 Day Weather Forecast For five years after 2012, snow- and rainfall totals were generally low, as the region suffered through a persistent, long-term drought. Encompassing all or parts of Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Utah and Wyoming. @) .=] 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 These long-term projections help water managers plan for future shortages, which are increasingly likely in the Colorado River Basin, in part because of warmer temperatures brought on by global climate change. 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. 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. For more information on the tools we use, consult, Upper Colorado Mainstem Specific Site Forecasts. This was the lowest water levels have been since the lake was first constructed in the 1930s. Lake Powell, Printable Version Global warming is expected to make droughts more severe in the future. 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! "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. 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. (2019-2021) AND my own personal prediction of 2022 based on p. 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 Colorado River cuts through dry land that was once covered by Lake Powell on September 7, 2022, near Hite, Utah. But it is concerning. The grim forecast comes as water officials race to bolster Lake Powells water levels. The system is appreciated for the water it supplies, but criticized for the environmental problems and cultural losses that have resulted from its creation. water-data.com LakePowell Water Database . WEco is funded by multiple donors. 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). For additional information, see the following news release: https://www.usbr.gov/newsroom/#/news-release/4196. 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 . 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. 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). View our Current Membership Thank You Gifts, KNAU News Talk - Arizona Public Radio | With low-runoff conditions and . Please contact the Operations Group via e-mail at ResourceMgr@usbr.gov for additional information. 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). But a long-term drying trend began in the year 2000. " 9`SADP zg Ab``#@ 7 3 The northwestern side branch of Lake Powell remained cut off from the rest of the reservoir. According to Jay Lund, vice director for the Center for Watershed Sciences and a professor at the University of California, the long-term average use in the lower Colorado River Basin exceeds the long-term flow of water, meaning the only solution is to "substantially reduce water use" in the basin. 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. Reclamation will continue to consult with the Basin States, Basin Tribes, the Republic of Mexico and other partners on Colorado River operations to consider and determine whether additional measures should be taken to further enhance the preservation of these benefits, as well as recovery protocols, including those of future protective measures for both Lakes Powell and Mead. 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