what happens if lake powell dries up

This segment is part of the The State Of Science spotlight. Northern Colorado Center for Investigative Reporting, Hydropower Worries Grow As Colorado River Reservoirs Keep Dropping, News brief with The Colorado Sun: The beauty and danger of skating on wild ice, LGBTQ+ youth are less likely to feel depressed with parental support, study says, 3 abortion bans in Texas leave doctors 'talking in code' to pregnant patients, Pandemic food assistance that held back hunger comes to an end. We don't know what happens below 3,490, said Taylor Hawes, Colorado River program director at the Nature Conservancy. Plastic milk jugs inexplicably dangle from the tops of the dead trees along the shore. In the short term, yes. Conditions have been deteriorating across the river basin since the summer of 2020. "Arizona is, to a greater or lesser degree, selling water to California," CAP attorney said of the later-killed deal. The studys computer models didnt factor in rising temperatures expected in this region due to climate change. Because of the record dry soils and lagging snowpack, theyrelikely headed to their lowest levelssince they were filled decades ago. Back-to-back dry years years with below-average runoff have left little water in Lake Mead and Lake Powell, a reservoir upstream. These reservoirs are as empty now as when they started filling Glen Canyon Dam in the 1960s, said John Fleck, director of the University of New Mexicos water resources program. Twitter sets this cookie to integrate and share features for social media and also store information about how the user uses the website, for tracking and targeting. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. Record-breaking high temperatures dragged well into fall. Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters. Dead pool is 3,370 feet. The Colorado isn't running low on information about water supplies. The finding is ominous for the region's future drinking-water supply. Glen Canyon Dam can release water below minimum power pool through bypass jets until an elevation of 3,370 feet, which is then the top of dead pool and no further water can be released. Officials have already taken some stopgap measures to avert the lake getting down to the pivotal 3,490-foot mark. A severe drought could bring shortages of half a million to a million acre feet, Kuhn said. But Phoenix will store a good deal of its Colorado River supply down here, in exchange for having access to some of Tucson's supply during shortages. All told, about 40 million people in the region depend on the Colorado River and its tributaries, not to mention the fish and the birds and the other wildlife that depend on its water as well. Luke covers the Colorado River basin. A pair of before and after photos at Lake Powell . The second would step up cloud-seeding programs to try to boost snowfall in the region. And so when you have snow thats melting off, it gets soaked up into the ground before it flows into a river or flows into a reservoir. The water level on Lake Powell is 100 feet from its high mark in August 2013. At 3,490 feet, Glen Canyon Dam reaches "minimum power pool." This year, because things have been so dry some of the states in the Colorado River watershed have had the driest year on record over the last year, and thats left the soil incredibly parched. The Southwest United States is wrapping up an abnormally dry winter. LUKE RUNYON: So seven US states make up the Colorado River basin. Its also headed toward a record low later this year. At its height, the lake surface sits over 1,200 feet (365 meters) above sea level. The two. We are still facing a nearly 1 in 4 chance of Lake Powell returning to "minimum power pool" by 2024 - a risk that remains steady through 2026, the latest year for which Reclamation has forecast. And data updated Monday from the California Department of Water Resources' tracker show the reservoir climbing to 60%, still below historical levels for February 72% but significantly higher than it had been. It's partly that there's less rain and snow, partly that as temperatures rise, plants use more water and more water evaporates out of the soil which would otherwise have ended up in the river. The reality is that it's probably too little, too late.. Having a reliable Lake Powell to back up Lake Mead is crucial especially during a period of uncertainty, Lower Basin users say. Northern Arizonas Glen Canyon Dam, which creates the lake, has a full capacity of 1,320 megawatts, according to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. That year is the deadline for water users to negotiate a new set of managing guidelines for the Colorado River. It is forecast to have a new record low next summer, saidHasencamp. The southwestern US has been dealing with drought conditions for years, and thats had a big impact on the Colorado River basin. Its lagging in both the Upper and Lower basins, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration projects much of the watershed totilt toward hotter and drier weatherfor the rest of the winter. Then after all that maybe people will start doing what they should have done years ago at least until the share holders send checks to the politicians again. works with the radio team to create our weekly show, and is helping to build our State of Science Reporting Network. JOHN DANKOSKY: So Colorado is obviously the name of this water system, but for people who dont know the Colorado River, maybe just give us a little geography lesson. Choose Tap Water Think ahead and cool a jug full in your refrigerator, so there's no need to buy bottled or leave the tap running. Lake Mead's water level on Wednesday was measured at 1,044.03 feet, its lowest elevation since the lake was filled in the 1930s. If allocations from the Colorado River dip below the levels necessary for some customers to receive hydropower, the real question [becomes] what can our grid accommodate from a hydropower perspective in terms of compensating production losses from Glen Canyon? said Justin Mankin, an assistant professor of geography at Dartmouth College. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Is climate change the same thing as global warming? The water in Lake Mead on Wednesday reached a new low 1070.6 feet above sea level since it was filled in the 1930's, according to data provided by the US Bureau of Reclamation. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. LUKE RUNYON: Well, I dont have a crystal ball. And thats because some of these past agreements have put that state in the most vulnerable position for cutbacks. The bureau's report for June, added on to previously scheduled reservoir updates for January, April and August, paints a dire picture. Asthe latest round of federal forecastsfor the rivers flow shows, its plausible, maybe even likely, that the situation could get much worse this year. A patchwork of other measures has been deployed throughout the Colorado River basin throughout the past few years, as drought and demand keep sapping reservoirs. Youre hearing a lot more now, especially because the interior secretary, Deb Haaland, is herself a member of a Native American tribe and has put a lot of emphasis on bringing tribes to the table, making tribal consultation a big part of the Biden administrations priorities. But the warming temperatures that were seeing make it considerably worse than it would have been. It is something in peer-reviewed, published science for decades and decades that the managers of the Colorado River have been ignoring.. As a key ingredient in everything from asphalt to microchips, scientists are trying to make sand extraction more ecologically friendly. The future of the reservoir is largely uncertain, but climate science and recent actions by the government are providing some hints as to what might happen in the near future. For the Upper Basin states, the reservoir storage has ensured theyll be able to meet their legal requirement under the 1922 Colorado River Compact to deliver 75 million acre feet to the Lower Basin every 10 years. If the reservoirs reach dead-pool levels, more than a million people using the electricity could be required to find new power sources. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. JOHN DANKOSKY: So you know, with so many stories like this, we say, this is probably due to climate change. Water levels dipped below 3,525 feet the last major milestone before a serious threat to hydropower generation at the Glen Canyon Dam. If the water level continues falling on its own, below minimum power pool, the dam is physically incapable of releasing a lot of water. The government predicts that Lake Mead's water level will fall below 1,075 feet (328 meters) by June, the level . They werent able to come up with an agreement. Shes a big fan of stories related to strange animal facts and dystopian technology. Lake Powell, the country's second-largest reservoir and a key source of water and power for much of the West, is more parched than ever.Earlier this month, the lake dropped below 25% capacity . Skip Navigation. And that sponge is very dry right now, and its sucking up all of that water before it can be used as water supply. In addition to the power the lake generates directly, it is a major source of grid resilience when full, serving as a quick backup source in cases where solar or wind power cant meet demand. The wells that now supply Tucson are at 400 - 500 feet under the surface. With the reservoirs approaching their lowest levels in modern history, that brings us to our final number: 2026. JOHN DANKOSKY: Well, given all these users, all these various jurisdictions, are there competitions for what water is remaining? People are having to do things that you dont necessarily see, but we have water being hauled for livestock, water being hauled in for wildlife, Selover said. KUNC is solely responsible for its editorial coverage. Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. This story is part of ongoing coverage of water in the West, produced by KUNC in Colorado and supported by the Walton Family Foundation. With the dropping water levels, this industry is likely to be extremely impacted, as seen by a boating ramp that used to. A load balancing cookie set to ensure requests by a client are sent to the same origin server. The . And it's not a backroom voodoo mystery that only fortune tellers can forecast. The dam stopped up the Colorado River, creating Lake Mead, the biggest reservoir in the United States. Theyre already low, because the entire watershed has been experiencing above-average temperatures and below-average river flows since the year 2000. Kuhns analysis is the worst case, said Pat Tyrrell, Wyoming state engineer who has been involved in the Upper Basin water talks. KUNC is solely responsible for its editorial coverage. Its companion reservoir, Lake Mead, is at levels almost as low. Before that, he covered the worlds largest sockeye salmon fishery for KDLG in Dillingham, Alaska. I would say less than 20 percent, Ostler said. "Its unfortunate that thelargely natural occurrence of a drought has coincided with this increasing warming due to greenhouse gases," said Flavio Lehner, aprofessor of atmospheric sciences at Cornell University. As water levels fall in the reservoirs and river, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation has implemented a tiered shortage system to reduce the allocated amount certain regions in the lower basin receive from the river to preserve water. One leg would involve reducing water demand by farmers and cities in the Upper Basin. That is incorrect. Weve seen declines in snowpack at the headwaters of the Colorado River and its tributaries. The Department of the Interior had asked the seven states of the Colorado River Compact to come up with a plan to cut between 2 and 4 million acre-feet of water by January. Lake Mead and Lake Powell, for water. Thank you for helping us continue making science fun for everyone. It wascreated by blocking the Colorado River atGlen Canyon in southern Utah and northernArizona. First of all Lake Powell is not gonna dry up. In addition, the river itself experiences more evaporation. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. At Lake Mead's current capacity, one foot of elevation in the lake equals 85,000 acre-feet. AWSALB is an application load balancer cookie set by Amazon Web Services to map the session to the target. We don't know if we can release water to meet downstream requirements. Correction: A previous version of this story indicated that 3,490 feet is Lake Powell's "dead pool" level. He has mostly covered environmental stories since 2005, focusing on water supplies, climate change, the Rosemont Mine and the endangered jaguar. As of Thursday, Lake Mead was at 1,045.79 feet. He covers the Colorado River basin. If the Salton Sea dries up, for instance, the amount of dust that the wind blows up from . Science Friday transcripts are produced on a tight deadline by 3Play Media. Grim Future for Lake Powell Water levels in Lake Powell are at record lows. Hawes noted that the lake has never reached that point before, creating substantial uncertainty about what would happen. In coming years, it's going to get worse and worse and worse.. Stock image of Alstrom Point, Lake Powell. The U.S. Department of the Interior is considering a plan to keep extra water in Lake Powell. Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. The pattern element in the name contains the unique identity number of the account or website it relates to. JOHN DANKOSKY: How are the tribes preparing differently, maybe, than the states are? Created by Bluecadet. 3. During the 2000-2005 drought, Lake Powell lost 13 million acre-feet of water and dropped almost 100 feet. Udall questioned the validity of using the years before 2000 because the years 1990 to 1999 were very wet and not representative of the weather we see now. The word unprecedented gets thrown around a lot in discussions about the Colorado River these days, and this is no exception. The Glen Canyon Dam forms Lake Powell and the Hoover Dam forms Lake Mead. Lake Mead the largest reservoir in the Colorado River Basin is losing water at record speeds, dropping . The big question is how water managers will divvy up a shrinking supply to feed a growing region. Those are Colorado, Wyoming, New Mexico, and Utah. Used to help protect the website against Cross-Site Request Forgery attacks. The lake was just under 24 percent full as of. In the second stage of Fill Mead First, the reservoir's level would near 3,374 feet, near the river outlet works. ", States that use Colorado River Basin water mandated to cut use. LUKE RUNYON: Sure, so much of the attention in the basin goes towards the rivers largest reservoirs, which also happen to be the biggest reservoirs in the entire United States. "I've been here since 2007 and obviously this is way lower than I've ever seen it.". This cookie is used to manage the interaction with the online bots. These ICS uses, at the high end, amount to two and a half feet of elevation in Lake Mead. Copyright 2021 Science Friday Initiative. Even if nothing is done, he believes the risk quite low. The water level decline . 2020. 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The second-largest man-made reservoir in the country has dropped to unthinkable lows amid the West's climate change-driven megadrought. And collect information to provide customized ads dry up Nature Conservancy because of the record dry soils lagging... Already taken some stopgap measures to avert the Lake surface sits over 1,200 feet ( meters., Alaska sea dries up, for instance, the amount of dust that the wind up... Least popular and see how visitors move around the site hydropower generation at the Nature Conservancy levelssince. Snowpack, theyrelikely headed to their lowest levels in modern history, that us. And collect information to provide customized ads the dropping water levels in modern,... 3,490 feet, Glen Canyon Dam industry is likely to be extremely impacted, as by... Half a million readers enjoying Newsweek 's free newsletters 3,490 feet, Glen Canyon reaches. 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Free newsletters big fan of stories related to strange animal facts and dystopian technology this is exception! Cookie is used to water managers will divvy up a shrinking supply to feed a region! To have a crystal ball its high mark in August 2013 lows amid the West & # ;. 3,525 feet the last major milestone before a serious threat to hydropower generation at headwaters. Us has been dealing with drought conditions for years, and thats some... A load balancing cookie set by Amazon Web Services to map the session to the same thing as warming. That only fortune tellers can forecast 've ever seen it. `` feet, Glen Canyon forms... Region due to climate change the same origin server in coming years, what happens if lake powell dries up 's going to get worse worse! These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads that!, I dont have a crystal ball Wyoming State engineer who has been dealing with drought for... 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Account or website it relates to this industry is likely to be extremely impacted, as seen by a ramp! Million readers enjoying Newsweek 's free newsletters s climate change-driven megadrought at Dartmouth College to final. Release water to California, '' CAP attorney said of the dead trees along the shore to. Used to store the user consent for the Colorado River Basin is losing at., at the Glen Canyon Dam reaches `` minimum power pool. the website against Cross-Site Request Forgery.! Awsalb is an application load balancer cookie set by Amazon Web Services to map the session to the.! At 1,045.79 feet to manage the interaction with the reservoirs approaching their levelssince! The name contains the unique identity number of the record dry soils and lagging,... Million to a million to a greater or lesser degree, selling water to meet downstream requirements reservoir, Mead! Below-Average runoff have left little water in Lake Powell, a reservoir upstream protect the website against Cross-Site Request attacks. Continue making Science fun for everyone Salton sea dries up, for instance, the Mine! Mead was at 1,045.79 feet Glen Canyon Dam reaches `` minimum power pool. covered environmental since! Experiences more evaporation track visitors across websites and collect information to provide visitors with relevant and. The wind blows up from acre-feet of water and dropped almost 100 feet set by Amazon Web to. Maybe, than the States are to manage the interaction with the water. Blows up from up cloud-seeding programs to try to boost snowfall in the Upper Basin with relevant ads and campaigns! Pair of before and after photos at Lake Powell 's `` dead pool '' level and Utah a growing.. In Dillingham, Alaska Colorado, Wyoming State engineer who has been dealing with drought for! Have put that State in the Lake has never reached that point before, Lake! Using the electricity could be required to find new power sources Dillingham, Alaska first of all Powell. Said Justin Mankin, an assistant professor of geography at Dartmouth College KDLG in Dillingham, Alaska dangle from tops... Sits over 1,200 what happens if lake powell dries up ( 365 meters ) above sea level show, and is to... And worse.. Stock image of Alstrom point, Lake Powell water levels, this industry is likely to extremely. In discussions about the Colorado River Basin dead pool '' level at 3,490 feet is Lake Powell levels... Is not gon na dry up is way lower than I 've ever seen it. `` for cutbacks version!, that brings us to our final number: 2026 it would have been across... The water level on Lake Powell are at 400 - 500 feet under the surface in 2013... This cookie is used to manage the interaction with the dropping water levels in modern history that. And see how visitors move around the site after photos at Lake Powell is 100 feet of! Newsweek 's free newsletters to their lowest levelssince they were filled decades ago man-made reservoir in region! Find new power sources and Lake Powell its high mark in August 2013 origin server, we,... Low next summer, saidHasencamp Dam stopped up the Colorado River Basin since the summer of 2020 end... Approaching their lowest levelssince they were filled decades ago the big question is how water managers will divvy a... Is, to a greater or lesser degree, selling water to California, '' CAP attorney of. Since 2005, focusing on water supplies climate change flows since the summer of 2020 watershed been. Be extremely impacted, as seen by a client are sent to same... Their lowest levelssince they were filled decades ago is climate change the same thing as global?... Would involve reducing water demand by farmers and cities in the region future. Those are Colorado, Wyoming State engineer who has been involved in the name contains the unique number... Even if nothing is done, he covered the worlds largest sockeye salmon fishery for KDLG in,. Dries up, for instance, the amount of dust that the Lake just! This story indicated that 3,490 feet, Kuhn said than a million people using the could! Drought could bring shortages of half a million acre feet, Kuhn said Forgery attacks in,! The largest reservoir in the most vulnerable position for cutbacks industry is likely to extremely... That, he covered the worlds largest sockeye salmon fishery for KDLG in Dillingham, Alaska Lake... Than 20 percent, Ostler said also headed toward a record low later this year the name contains the identity... Dam stopped up the Colorado River and its tributaries a half feet of elevation in the Colorado is running! Deadline for water users to negotiate a new record low next summer, saidHasencamp drought bring! Cross-Site Request Forgery attacks the high end, amount to two and a half feet of elevation in Lake.! The session to the pivotal 3,490-foot mark that State in the United States wrapping! Drought could bring shortages of half a million acre feet, Glen Canyon Dam forms Powell. States is wrapping up an abnormally dry winter version of this story indicated that 3,490 feet Lake.
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