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Powell Reservoir Drops to Record Low as Colorado River Face-of-Drought Tightens Water Supply
energy-and-environment8 days ago

Powell Reservoir Drops to Record Low as Colorado River Face-of-Drought Tightens Water Supply

Lake Powell, the nation’s second-largest reservoir, has fallen to a record-low water level of about 3,519.8 feet, with Lake Mead also at a historic low (roughly 1,039.83 feet); projections show Mead could dip below 1,110 feet by 2028 and Powell near the minimum power pool (about 3,490 feet) by 2027. Seven states and roughly 35–40 million people rely on the Colorado River, as drought, climate change, and heavy use tighten supplies. The Interior Department proposed cutbacks of up to 3 million acre-feet per year, a plan facing pushback from state officials such as Arizona’s governor.

via The Hill|
#colorado-river#drought#energy-and-environment
Lake Powell Reaches Record Low, Intensifying Western Water Crisis
environment9 days ago

Lake Powell Reaches Record Low, Intensifying Western Water Crisis

Lake Powell, the United States’ second-largest reservoir, dropped to a record low of 3,519.91 feet, edging past the previous record and leaving it about 30 feet from the dam’s minimum power pool; Lake Mead has also hit new lows, highlighting a long-running Colorado River drought driven by climate change and heavy water use. Powell and Mead store roughly 60% of the basin’s water and power the region, prompting federal plans for water cuts across seven states in coming days, while El Niño could bring limited relief but won’t reverse years of drought.

via CNN|
#climate-change#colorado-river#drought
Blade shape alone raises sturgeon survival in hydropower turbines
energy23 days ago

Blade shape alone raises sturgeon survival in hydropower turbines

In a controlled study, juvenile white sturgeon were run through both a conventional turbine blade and a reshaped, blunt-edged blade at matched head and shaft speed. Survival with the conventional runner ranged from 42% to 78% with about one-third severed; the reshaped blade produced near‑100% survival at four speeds and 95.6% at the fastest. The only variable was blade geometry, suggesting geometry can dramatically improve fish passage; DOE has approved outdoor eel testing at Garvins Falls to explore field performance.

via Autonocion.com|
#blade-geometry#energy#fish-survival
Historic Low Levels in Powell and Mead Endanger Water and Power for Millions
climate1 month ago

Historic Low Levels in Powell and Mead Endanger Water and Power for Millions

The combined storage of Lake Powell and Lake Mead has fallen to historic lows, with Powell at 3,524 feet and Mead just under 1,043 feet as of July 12, 2026, the lowest July levels on record. The Colorado River basin is 95% in drought, and these reservoirs supply water for about 40 million people and power for hundreds of thousands of homes. Powell could reach minimum power pool by spring 2027, threatening hydropower and water deliveries; El Niño could bring some relief but is unlikely to reverse the risk. Officials call for updated operating guidelines and major investments in water efficiency and crop management.

via CNN|
#climate#colorado-river#drought
Beaver Island Trials Wave Power to Boost Local Energy Resilience
technology1 month ago

Beaver Island Trials Wave Power to Boost Local Energy Resilience

Researchers on Beaver Island in Lake Michigan tested two small wave-energy devices that generated enough electricity to light a bulb and charge a phone, a potential step toward a more reliable, locally produced power source for a remote community. Funded by NSF and part of a broader U.S. push to commercialize wave power, the project highlights promising progress but also challenges—high costs, deployment hurdles, and dependent funding—while the Great Lakes provide a safer, real-world testing ground for inland-sea wave technology.

via The Guardian|
#beaver-island#great-lakes#hydropower
Beijing’s Westward Push: Power, Tourism and Control
world2 months ago

Beijing’s Westward Push: Power, Tourism and Control

China is rolling out a sweeping plan to knit Xinjiang and Tibet into the mainstream economy, building massive energy, infrastructure and tourism projects that could turn the region into a major power hub and strategic gateway to Europe, while expanding state security and surveillance. Key elements include a colossal hydropower scheme on the Yarlung Tsangpo in Tibet with long-duty power exports, a multi‑billion‑dollar grid link to Guangdong, and extensive transport and hotel investments in Xinjiang. Analysts say the push strengthens Beijing’s geopolitical and economic clout but critics warn it intensifies repression of Uyghur and Tibetan communities and deepens reliance on state-controlled labor and resources, amid sanctions and global scrutiny of supply chains.

via Financial Times|
#hydropower#tibet#uyghurs
Powell power boost from river releases comes with downstream costs
environment4 months ago

Powell power boost from river releases comes with downstream costs

In the drought-stricken Colorado River basin, officials plan to release more water into Lake Powell to boost hydroelectric generation. The move could improve Powell’s electrical output in the near term, but it trades increased power supply for reduced water deliveries or higher costs for downstream users in California, Nevada and the lower basin, underscoring the tough compromises of river management during continued drought.

via AP News|
#colorado-river#drought#environment
China Commences Construction of the World's Largest Hydropower Dam in Tibet
world1 year ago

China Commences Construction of the World's Largest Hydropower Dam in Tibet

China has begun constructing the world's largest hydroelectric dam on the Yarlung Tsangpo river in Tibet, a project called the 'project of the century' that aims to generate 300 million MWh annually but faces environmental, geopolitical, and social protests due to concerns over water flow, displacement, and ecological impact. Despite environmental criticisms, China emphasizes the dam's role in boosting renewable energy and reducing reliance on fossil fuels, aligning with its goal to become carbon neutral by 2060.

via CleanTechnica|
#china#environmental-protests#hydropower