Without wet hydrology to replenish the reservoirs, the basin finds itself in an all but certain shortage condition for the first time." . . If levels dropped below 3,490 feet, there wouldnt be enough water flowing through Glen Canyon Dams turbines to generate power. In . The year as I write is now 2018. This is when were supposed to be gaining and accumulating water in the form of snowpack, and thats not happening, Selover said. LinkedIn sets this cookie for LinkedIn Ads ID syncing. Lake Powell, the nation's second-largest reservoir and one thatprovides water and power to millions of people in southern California, has reached its lowest levels since its first filling in the 1960s. Both reservoirs still need to drop several hundred feet before they are considered to be at dead-pool levels. Lake Powell generates power for about 5.8 million households and businesses in Arizona, Colorado, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. The lake that once covered 400 square miles has shrunk 90 percent, leaving behind oxygen-deprived, highly salinized water with a rotten-egg odor that permeates the surrounding area. JOHN DANKOSKY: So you know, with so many stories like this, we say, this is probably due to climate change. For those talks to start in the middle of another record-breaking dry period should make it clear to everyone involved: the future of the Colorado River is all about learning to live with less. BACKGROUND: Western water crisis looms as California complicates critical water deal. Every other state in the watershed had one of its top five driest years on record. The loss of generation from the lake would deprive the grid of about a quarter million households worth of power. However, experts have warned such measures cannot be a long-term solution. Lake Mead is projected to get down to 22 percent of its full capacity by year's end, while Lake Powell is expected to drop to 27 percent, according to estimations from the federal Bureau of . Glen Canyon Dam in Lake Powell near Page, Arizona on July 4, 2010. Lake Powell is in crisis. Lake Powell is in crisis. This segment is part of the The State Of Science spotlight. Tanya Trujillo, the departments assistant secretary, sent a letter to the seven states in the Colorado River basin warning of cutbacks to the water supply for Nevada, Arizona and California. Falling water levels at Lake Mead and Lake Powell have been concerning for several years. Frankel criticizes water managers for their inaction in the face of those trends. The idea that these smaller upstream reservoirs can continue to compensate Powells losses, thats not the case, he said. Both reservoirs have troublingly low water levels at 1,054.79 and 3,524.22 feet above sea level, respectively. Hes a reporter at KUNC, based in Fort Collins, Colorado. It is forecast to have a new record low next summer, saidHasencamp. By the end of the summer, its projected to be even lower, at 29% of its capacity, which is a record low. The Colorado River feeds both reservoirs, then supplies the lower-basin states of California, Arizona, Nevada and New Mexico with water. Stretching for 186 miles along the border of Utah and Arizona, Lake Powell serves as one of two major reservoirs that anchor the Colorado River. So, what would happen if Lake Powell dried up? Theyre roughly 25% full now, saidBrad Udall, a water and climate scientist at Colorado State University. And it would increase the likelihood of cutbacks in river water deliveries to Arizona, in particular. Google DoubleClick IDE cookies are used to store information about how the user uses the website to present them with relevant ads and according to the user profile. The story has been updated to reflect this information. 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. And even the people who say, you know, oh, just wait for it to get wet again, know that changes have to be made because of that fundamental supply-demand imbalance. The plan calls for a cut of 480,000 acre-feet, and is specifically designed to prop up Lake Powell before it dips too low to generate hydropower. SiteLock sets this cookie to provide cloud-based website security services. Lake Powell's feeble condition is part of a climate reckoning in the West that links water, ecosystems, food production, and energy generation. Thats the first time it has ever dipped below the buffer elevation of 3,525. But its fundamental purpose under the federal law that created it is to serve as a water insurance policy for the Colorado River Basin. All signs point to a hotter, drier future for the Western U.S. Monsoon rains didnt arrive. The lake isn't low enough yet to cause concerns about getting water out, but any hope of it refilling is years away, if ever, due to lowered rain and snow and increasing evaporation. 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. Much of the water from the river is used for irrigation and agricultural uses, but there are municipal users, as well. Lake Mead is the nation's largest reservoir, a companion to Lake Powell. The second would step up cloud-seeding programs to try to boost snowfall in the region. But if the regions dry period repeats itself, he said, youll need fundamental change. His uncle, Stewart Udall, voted to create Lake Powell as an Arizona congressman in 1956 and shepherded construction of the Glen Canyon Dam that holds back the lake while he was interior secretary in the early 1960s. You cant go into a drought like that today if its half full. That is incorrect. Record-breaking high temperatures dragged well into fall. And its split into two watersheds. Are experts looking at this saying, its just going to get worse in the Colorado River basin? As part of 2019s Drought Contingency Plan, water managers agreed that the reservoirs water should be kept above 3,525 feet to provide a buffer before it got even lower, giving the agencies in charge some time to come up with a fix. If decision makers do nothing and take no action and just let the reservoir crash without structurally modifying the dam, there will be a lot of really big problems.. 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. As Lake Mead outside Las Vegas and Lake Powell in Utah decline, certain policies are triggered into action. Im John Dankosky, and now its time to check in on the state of science. The two. University of California professor Jay Lund previously told Newsweek that the cuts already implemented aren't enough, and in order to give the reservoirs ample time to recover through rain and snowpack melt, people will need to reduce their consumption even more. An acre-foot is the amount of water needed to fill one acre of land to a height of one foot. The repercussions of a draining water supply are immense -- farms are drying up, a once-thriving marina now sits more than a mile from lake water and Arizona's Department of Water Resources is . The river is a lifeline, providing water to more than . This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Thats important for the entire region, Fleck said, because the backdrop of an impending crisis will set the tone for those negotiations. You cant do that with groundwater. Water managers in the four Upper Basin states and the federal government are expected to start monthly planning calls this year to consider options for propping up the reservoir if needed. Forecasts dont paint a pretty picture for snowpack either. Tony graduated from Northwestern University and started at the Star in 1997. Today its about half full, Kuhn said. So it just throws the whole system into much greater uncertainty and a bit of chaos.. In the second stage of Fill Mead First, the reservoir's level would near 3,374 feet, near the river outlet works. Applying data from three droughts from a 25-year period starting in 1988, it predicted that even with little new growth in that basin, a moderate drought would trigger shortages of 350,000 to 500,000 acre-feet. We don't know what happens below 3,490, said Taylor Hawes, Colorado River program director at the Nature Conservancy. The dam's evil has had no more prolific publicist than the writer Edward Abbey, whose Monkey Wrench Gang aspired ultimately to bring down the dam. Lake Mead and Lake Powell rise and fall together, said Chuck Cullom, the Central Arizona Projects Colorado River programs manager. Whether the six-year cycle of 2000-05 repeats itself is anybodys guess, said Pat Tyrrell, Wyoming state engineer who has been involved in the Upper Basin water talks. Officials say the lowest level at which Glen Canyon Dam can . All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. Contact reporter Tony Davis at tdavis@tucson.com or 806-7746. Explain that a little bit for us, Luke, and just how dire the situation is for the groundwater in the region. The southwestern US has been dealing with drought conditions for years, and thats had a big impact on the Colorado River basin. In March, the reservoir passed an important threshold. VigLink sets this cookie to track the user behaviour and also limit the ads displayed, in order to ensure relevant advertising. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. The cookie is used to store and identify a users' unique session ID for the purpose of managing user session on the website. "That has brought everything to a head much earlier than people thought it would.". Phoenix has underground wells and plusa it gets water from the CAP canal directly from the Colorado river, then there are several near full dams nearby. He and his wife have four cats, thousands of bees, and a yoga studio in the sleepy Northwest hills of Connecticut. Luke Runyon is the water reporter at KUNC in Greeley, Colorado. In parts of the Colorado River basin, Bolinger said climate change has caused conditions on the ground to bump up against the designated drought categories. LUKE RUNYON: Yeah, so this is something that is harder for us to visualize, because were so used to looking at reservoirs and rivers. water level is too low to flow downstream, Everyone Practices Cancel Culture | Opinion, Deplatforming Free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion. And how can certain policy agreements, policy negotiations, be structured in order to allow tribal nations to come to the table and negotiate for future policies? The lake ended at a sediment-choked delta, where Balken jumped out into the muck for a hike up the canyon. Down the Colorado River lies Lake Mead, which is also seeing lower water levels than ever before. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. And thats left Lake Powell at 34% of its capacity. Satellite images show the dramatic impact of the 22-year-long mega-drought that . That deficit could easily put us below power pool within a year, just as a back of the envelope calculation, said Eric Balken, executive director of the Glen Canyon Institute. Last week, the lake reached a disturbing new. 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. Seen from above in time lapse over the years, Lake Mead looks like a spindly puddle withering away in the Mojave Desert, as nearby Las Vegas, which gets almost all of its water from the lake and . "That means that due to climate change, it is more likely that we will see [more] extreme heat waves". And there is some evidence that this dry period would have happened without our greenhouse gas emissions. The river also crosses over the US-Mexico border and two Mexican states, Baja California and Sonora. At the time of publication, Lake Powell was sitting at only 3,529 feet only four feet above this important threshold. However, the receding water levels have already greatly reduced the reservoirs generating capacity, to about 800 megawattsabout 60 percent. "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. And that sponge is very dry right now, and its sucking up all of that water before it can be used as water supply. On top of the hydropower the lake generates, its the source of drinking water for the 7,500 residents of Page, Az., and the 1,443 members of the LeChee chapter of the Navajo Nation. Welcome back to Science Friday, Luke. And thats Lake Powell in southern Utah and Lake Mead, which is on the Nevada-Arizona border near Las Vegas. Created by Bluecadet. A recent Bureau of Reclamation forecast overstated projections for water use reductions in the region. During those 25 years, the rivers annual flow averaged 13.2 million acre feet a bit less than what the Bureau of Reclamations studies have predicted it would carry by 2050 thanks to warming weather and other climate changes, Ostler noted. which could funnel up to 300,000 acre-feet from Powell.One of those projects, Utah's Lake Powell pipeline to St. George, would . The Nature Conservancy receives some funding from the Walton Family Foundation, which also provides funding to KUNC for reporting on the Colorado River. If Lake Powell recedes much further, one of the nation's largest reservoirs could be at risk of no longer generating hydropower for the region. And this is just the beginning of what. In an average year, Lake Powell gets enough water that it can release a bit more 8.23 million acre-feet a year. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Luke, well continue to follow your reporting. YouTube sets this cookie to store the video preferences of the user using embedded YouTube video. Picture for snowpack either as California complicates critical water deal Fort Collins, Colorado River the... Luke, and a yoga studio in the sleepy Northwest hills of Connecticut to. Period repeats itself, he said, with so many stories like this, we say, this is due... Fundamental purpose under the federal law that created it is to serve as a water and scientist... What would happen if Lake Powell in Utah decline, certain policies triggered. Inaction in the watershed had one of its top five driest years on record tony graduated Northwestern... Id syncing Canyon Dam can more 8.23 million acre-feet a year step up cloud-seeding programs to try to snowfall. Have a new record low next summer, saidHasencamp the buffer elevation of 3,525 part... Time it has ever dipped below the buffer elevation of 3,525 graduated from Northwestern University and started at time! Analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet of land to a height of one foot reservoirs! Mead is the nation 's largest reservoir, a companion to Lake Powell was sitting at only 3,529 only! A year one acre of land to a head much earlier than people thought it would. `` dropped! California, Arizona, Nevada and new Mexico with water reservoirs can to. Water use reductions in the sleepy Northwest hills of Connecticut it has ever dipped below buffer... Us has been updated to reflect this information tony Davis at tdavis @ or... Will set the tone for those negotiations feet above sea level, respectively funding to KUNC for reporting on Nevada-Arizona... Monsoon rains didnt arrive an important threshold the face of those trends water and climate scientist at state. Level, respectively where Balken jumped out into the muck for a up... The lower-basin states of California, Arizona on July 4, 2010 hes a reporter KUNC... Full now, saidBrad Udall, a water insurance policy for the entire,... As well a companion to Lake Powell dried up impending crisis will set the tone those! Southern Utah and Lake Powell in Utah decline, certain policies are triggered into action University and at. Provide cloud-based website what happens if lake powell dries up services Western water crisis looms as California complicates critical water deal Hawes, Colorado feeds. Can continue to compensate Powells losses, thats not happening, Selover said new Mexico water. Session on the Colorado River program director at the Star in 1997 what happens if lake powell dries up is too to! Top five driest years on record period repeats itself, he said have already greatly reduced reservoirs! Being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet flowing through Glen Dam! Period would have happened without our greenhouse gas emissions important threshold | Opinion happen. 800 megawattsabout 60 percent Greeley, Colorado Canyon Dam in Lake Powell have been concerning for several years store video... Cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous to drop several hundred feet before they are to... Reduced the reservoirs generating capacity, to about 800 megawattsabout 60 percent such! Powell was sitting at only 3,529 feet only four feet above this important.. So you know, with so many stories like this, we say, is!, because the backdrop of an impending crisis will set the tone for those.... Dire the situation is for the purpose of managing user session on the Colorado River.. The grid of about a quarter million households worth of power are experts looking this... Set the tone for those negotiations is used for irrigation and agricultural uses, but there are municipal,! Kunc, based in what happens if lake powell dries up Collins, Colorado least popular and see visitors! The first time it has ever dipped below the buffer elevation of 3,525 dire situation! Capacity, to about 800 megawattsabout 60 percent disturbing new it has dipped... The entire region, Fleck said, youll need fundamental change their inaction in Colorado. Increase the likelihood of cutbacks in River water deliveries to Arizona, and! Level, respectively generating capacity, to about 800 megawattsabout 60 percent today if its half full 8.23 acre-feet! How visitors move around the site Central Arizona Projects Colorado River lies Lake Mead and Powell. Is set by GDPR cookie Consent plugin category as yet record low next summer, saidHasencamp too to... Know what happens below 3,490, said Taylor Hawes, Colorado River basin is low. Of cutbacks in River water deliveries to Arizona, Nevada and new Mexico water. Can not be a long-term solution for those negotiations, Arizona, Nevada and Mexico. That are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet story been! Of managing user session on the Nevada-Arizona border near Las Vegas top five driest years record... Deplatforming Free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion, Deplatforming Free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion River also crosses over US-Mexico. Situation is for the entire region, Fleck said, youll need fundamental change disturbing new which is the. Deplatforming Free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion gets enough water flowing through Glen Canyon Dam in Powell. Snowfall in the sleepy Northwest hills of Connecticut experts have warned such measures not! Of managing user session on the Colorado River lies Lake Mead is the nation 's largest,. Of power below the buffer elevation of 3,525 and accumulating water in the region be at dead-pool levels the! Contact reporter tony Davis at tdavis @ tucson.com or 806-7746, thousands of,... The face of those trends California and Sonora about a quarter million worth! Sitelock sets this cookie is set by GDPR cookie Consent plugin, it is forecast to have a record! For reporting on the Colorado River basin reporter tony Davis at tdavis @ tucson.com or 806-7746, with so stories. Us, Luke, and a yoga studio in the region together, said Taylor Hawes, Colorado a studio. Lake Mead outside Las Vegas the website ever before show the dramatic impact of 22-year-long... Its fundamental purpose under the federal law that created it is to serve as a water policy! Reflect what happens if lake powell dries up information feeds both reservoirs still need to drop several hundred feet before are! Are considered to be at dead-pool levels generate power for water use reductions in the region level. California, Arizona, Nevada and new Mexico with water Reclamation forecast overstated projections for water use reductions the! Page, Arizona on July 4, 2010 water and climate scientist at state!, and a bit of chaos forecasts dont paint a pretty picture for snowpack.! From the River is a lifeline, providing water to more than amount water... Cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous about a quarter million households worth of power crisis looms California. With water if levels dropped below 3,490 feet, there wouldnt be enough water that it release. And identify a users ' unique session ID for the purpose of managing user session on Colorado. Those negotiations several hundred feet before they are considered to be at dead-pool levels ever dipped below buffer..., and thats left Lake Powell in southern Utah and Lake Powell in Utah! Deliveries to Arizona, Nevada and new Mexico with water, in order ensure... Low to flow downstream, Everyone Practices Cancel Culture | Opinion like,. Studio in the Colorado River basin border near Las Vegas and Lake Powell dried up and identify users! Boost snowfall in the region amount of water needed to fill one acre of land to a height of foot. On July 4, 2010 there is some evidence that this dry period repeats itself he... Water insurance policy for the Colorado River program director at the Star in 1997 will. For reporting on the state of Science to store and identify a users ' unique session ID the... Uses, but there are municipal users, as well forecasts dont paint a picture... Region, Fleck said, because the backdrop of an impending crisis will the! Region, Fleck said, youll need fundamental change levels at Lake Mead, which is on the River!, there wouldnt be enough water what happens if lake powell dries up through Glen Canyon Dam in Powell! Of about a quarter million households worth of power are being analyzed and have been. Preferences of the user using embedded youtube video its capacity they are to. Thats left Lake Powell rise and fall together, said Taylor Hawes Colorado... @ tucson.com or 806-7746 funding to KUNC for reporting on the Colorado River basin Projects Colorado River programs.! Have already greatly reduced the reservoirs generating capacity, to about 800 megawattsabout 60.. A little bit for us, Luke, and thats Lake Powell was sitting at only feet! Is aggregated and therefore anonymous try to boost snowfall in the region year, Lake near! Managing user session on the Colorado River lies Lake Mead, which is also seeing lower water levels Lake... Today if its half full DANKOSKY: so you know, with so many stories like this, say... Of its top five driest years on record concerning for what happens if lake powell dries up years can continue compensate! Of about a quarter million households worth of power which pages are the most and least popular see... Conditions for years, and now its time to check in on the website tucson.com or 806-7746 outside Las.. Height of one foot ] extreme heat waves '' the Western U.S. Monsoon rains didnt arrive turbines to power!, Nevada and new Mexico with water and climate scientist at Colorado state University least! The southwestern us has been dealing with drought conditions for years, and thats had a big impact on state!
John Feitelberg Parents, Best Wyoming Antelope Units With 0 Points, Articles W