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Lake Powell

All articles tagged with #lake powell

environment12 days ago•18 min saved

Southwest Faces Deep Colorado River Cuts as Reservoirs Hit Historic Lows

The U.S. Interior Department released a two-year plan mandating Arizona, California and Nevada to sharply reduce Colorado River water use through 2028 to address record-low reservoir levels, with Arizona facing the largest cuts and California and Nevada also reducing; upper-basin states are not required to cut. The plan aims to stabilize water and power supplies for tens of millions, but could trigger lawsuits as states negotiate longer-term reductions and shared responsibility for the river.

via East Idaho News|

#colorado-river #drought #environment

environment13 days ago•3 min saved

Two-year Colorado River cuts hit California, Nevada and Arizona amid record drought

Federal officials unveiled a two-year plan to cut water use by 1.25 million acre-feet annually across California, Nevada and Arizona, with Arizona facing the largest reductions; upstream states Colorado, Utah, Wyoming and New Mexico are not facing cuts for now, and Mexico will also reduce its intake under a treaty. The action comes as the Colorado River’s supplies remain stressed and Lake Mead and Lake Powell reach historic low levels, with the current sharing rules expiring in October and longer-term negotiations ongoing.

via ABC7 Los Angeles|

#colorado-river #drought #environment

environment15 days ago•7 min saved

Feds unveil two-year Colorado River plan as Powell nears critical level

The Bureau of Reclamation released a two-year operating plan for the Colorado River that does not mandate cuts in Upper Basin states like Utah, but requires sizable reductions in the Lower Basin (Arizona, California, Nevada) and Mexico to address persistent drought and keep Lake Powell (and Lake Mead) from falling further. Powell's target elevation is raised to 3,510 feet with initial releases of about 6–7 million acre-feet for the 2027 water year and adjustments to stay above that level; Flaming Gorge inflows will be prioritized to support Powell; a new Federally Managed Water Resources Pool at Lake Mead will offset some obligations; the plan includes a 10-year framework to push for a consensus among all seven states and Mexico. Upper Basin states have a voluntary path to save up to 200,000 acre-feet per year, while no mandatory cuts are imposed now; treat the plan as a bridge to a long-term agreement, with potential legal challenges looming from Arizona and others.

via The Salt Lake Tribune|

#colorado-river #drought-management #environment

environment15 days ago•6 min saved

Arizona Bears the Largest Cuts in New Colorado River Plan

The federal Bureau of Reclamation announced a two-year plan (through 2028) to cut Colorado River deliveries by about 1.25 million acre-feet per year across the Lower Basin, with Arizona taking the largest share (roughly 760,000 acre-feet annually) and California and Nevada also facing reductions. The plan aims to keep Lake Powell’s levels above 3,510 feet and will be revisited every two years, relying on a mix of mandatory cuts and voluntary water-saving measures while leaving Upper Basin states out of this round.

via KJZZ|

#arizona #colorado-river #environment

energy-and-environment18 days ago•41 min saved

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

environment20 days ago•202 min saved

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

environment20 days ago•3 min saved

Powell at record low threatens West’s water and power supply

Lake Powell fell to a new record low of 3,519.91 feet on Aug. 15, underscoring a worsening Western drought driven by climate change and threatening future hydroelectric power; slipping below 3,490 feet could imperil electricity generation and push the system toward ‘dead pool,’ risking water for millions and irrigation for California’s Imperial Valley. With Lake Mead also at record lows, federal plans are cutting outflows, and recovery hinges on a much wetter winter, though long‑term trends point to continued declines despite the slim chance of El Niño help.

via USA Today|

#climate-change #colorado-river #drought

environment24 days ago•10 min saved

New Colorado River framework leans on voluntary cuts and tribal credits to navigate drought

The Bureau of Reclamation’s new 10-year framework for the Colorado River emphasizes voluntary conservation in the Upper Basin (Utah and neighboring states) and allows up to 3 million acre-feet of conserved water to be stored in Lake Powell for transactions, while raising the possibility of large cuts in the Lower Basin (Arizona, California, Nevada) during dry years. It targets about 200,000 acre-feet of voluntary savings for Utah and other Upper Basin states, but also contemplates maintaining Powell and Mead levels by adjusting releases and potentially tapping upstream reservoirs. The plan could trigger a compact call or lawsuits if flows fall below critical thresholds, and while it’s meant to push toward consensus among seven states, it does not solve long-standing drought and climate-change pressures. Final federal decision is imminent.

via The Salt Lake Tribune|

#colorado-river #drought #environment

environment1 month ago•16 min saved

Colorado River at historic low levels imperils water and electricity for millions

The combined water levels of Lake Powell and Lake Mead have fallen to historic lows, threatening water deliveries and hydropower for tens of millions in the U.S. Southwest. Powell is at a record-low for July and Mead is near its all-time low, with ongoing drought and climate-change–driven aridity shrinking the basin’s storage. Projections suggest continued record-low storage into spring, prompting renewed negotiations among seven basin states and potential new operating guidelines, while El Niño offers only limited relief. The crisis underscores the need for major efficiency investments, crop-shifts, and other adaptive measures to prevent a system-wide failure.

via East Idaho News|

#colorado-river #drought #environment

environment1 month ago•4 min saved

Southwest races to conserve water as Lake Powell approaches a critical low

Cities across the Southwest are stepping up water-saving measures as Lake Powell falls to historic lows, threatening river flow and power generation. Phoenix has three purification facilities and smart irrigation, Tucson has long switched to desert landscaping, San Diego relies on a large desalination plant and recently agreed to curb Colorado River withdrawals, and Albuquerque promotes its Water 2120 plan with restrictions on lawn watering. California and six other river states remain at an impasse over sharing cuts, while agriculture still accounts for most river usage. Drinking water remains secure for now, but costs could rise and urban conservation must be paired with greater agricultural and policy action to avert a worst-case scenario like a “dead pool.”

via USA Today|

#colorado-river #desalination #drought

climate1 month ago•195 min saved

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

environment3 months ago•22 min saved

Colorado, Nevada push back on federal Colorado River plan amid drought

Colorado and Nevada negotiators signaled at a Boulder water conference that key parts of the Bureau of Reclamation’s plan to release water from Lake Powell and Lake Mead need revision, notably the idea of biannual reviews; with drought tightening supplies and Powell’s inflow forecasts at record lows, the long-standing compact remains unresolved as states fear litigation or a potential Supreme Court showdown. Reclamation aims to finalize a decade-long reservoir-operations plan within two months, but a temporary two-year approach from Lower Basin leaders and unresolved questions about who bears cuts and tribal allocations keep the dispute highly contentious.

via Colorado Public Radio|

#colorado-river #drought #environment

environment4 months ago•4 min saved

Lower Basin plan buys time with multi-state water cuts through 2028

Arizona, California and Nevada proposed voluntary cuts totaling 700,000–1,000,000 acre-feet through 2028 to bolster Lake Powell and Lake Mead, adding to earlier reductions for a total of over 3.2 million acre-feet through 2028. Framed as a bridge to buy time for longer-term negotiations and to avoid mandatory CAP cuts, the plan requires federal approval and signals openness to mediation with Upper Basin states.

via KJZZ|

#arizona #colorado-river #environment

climate-and-environment4 months ago•5 min saved

Southwest banks on two-year Colorado River cuts to avert looming shortages

California, Arizona and Nevada propose a two-year plan to cut more than 3.2 million acre-feet of Colorado River water through 2028, with Arizona taking the largest share (about 760,000 ac-ft per year, California 440,000 ac-ft, Nevada 50,000 ac-ft), as Lake Mead sits at 31% capacity and Lake Powell at 24% amid record-low snowpack, in a bid to stabilize the river while seven states continue talks on a longer-term deal.

via Los Angeles Times|

#climate-and-environment #colorado-river #drought

environment4 months ago•72 min saved

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