Scientists Urge Draining 24%-Full Lake Powell to Protect Water for 40 Million

3 articles · Updated · KUTV 2News · Jul 7

Lake Powell, now 24% full at elevation 3,527 feet, is the focus of a proposal to move its stored water downstream into Lake Mead to better protect supplies serving about 40 million people.
At 3,500 feet, Powell is effectively at minimum operating level; below 3,490 it cannot generate hydropower, and below 3,370 water can no longer pass through Glen Canyon Dam.
The Bureau of Reclamation has cut releases by 1.48 million acre-feet through September and is sending 600,000 to 1 million acre-feet from Flaming Gorge, steps projected to keep Powell at or above 3,500 through April 2027.
Backers call those measures a one-year fix, arguing Glen Canyon Dam has become a bottleneck because roughly 6 million acre-feet below its outlet threshold cannot be released without drilling bypass tunnels.
The debate comes as Colorado River states remain deadlocked on post-2026 operating rules; ending Glen Canyon hydropower or removing the dam would require major policy shifts, and dam removal would need congressional approval.

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Draining Lake Powell? Evaluating Emergency Actions, "Fill Mead First," and the Colorado River’s Water Crisis

Overview

Lake Powell is facing an immediate and severe crisis that threatens the water supply for about 40 million people in the southwestern United States. Without intervention, water levels are projected to fall below the minimum power pool by August 2026, which would make the Glen Canyon Dam's hydroelectric plant inoperable. In response, the Bureau of Reclamation has taken emergency measures, including increased releases from upstream reservoirs and reduced outflows from Glen Canyon Dam. These actions are designed to temporarily stabilize Lake Powell's levels, but they are only short-term solutions and highlight the urgent need for long-term water management strategies.

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