Surface Water Elevation (feet) Lake Powell End of Month Elevations1 . He began his journalism career in New Hampshire, then moved West and became a reporter at the Lafayette News. Soil moisture conditions have improved over the last year across most of Colorados Western Slope, but thats not necessarily saying much because of how bad soil moisture conditions were heading into last years snowmelt runoff season, Moser said. "These reservoirs are huge," Lund said. Click for Details, Current Snowpack Conditions for Upper Colorado Basin. and last updated 5:24 PM, Sep 24, 2021. "Its always good to plan for the worst, right? At the same time, electric utilities across the West are looking for other green options and hoping that hydropower production wont stop altogether. google_ad_type = "text_image"; For additional information, the news release can be found here: https://www.usbr.gov/newsroom/news-release/4294. Its better than last year, but well just have to see what the next two to four weeks holds for precipitation.. The forecast for water year 2023 unregulated inflow to Lake Powell, issued on January 5, 2023, by the Colorado Basin River Forecast Center, projects that the most probable (median) unregulated inflow volume in water year 2023 will be 9.5 maf (99 percent of average). average basin temperatures and precipitation for the forecast period. The model is based on weather conditions over a thirty-year span. The Upper Basin reservoirs have already provided 161,000 acre-feet of water pursuant to the imminent need provision of the Drought Response Operations Agreement, including 36,000 acre-feet from Blue Mesa Reservoir in Colorado. Depending on the severity of the system emergency, the response from Glen Canyon Dam can be significant, within the full range of the operating capacity of the power plant for as long as is necessary to maintain balance in the transmission system. Lake Powell water level at Wahweap Marina in September 2021 | Photo by Bureau of Reclamation, St. George News . Federal and state water managers have watched the water level in Lake Powell closely this year. As of September 20, 2021, the water elevation at Glen Canyon Dam was 3,546.93 feet, more than 153 feet below "full pool" (elevation 3,700 feet). Click for . Water Data for 20 days surrounding Feb 28, 2022. KNAU's Melissa Sevigny reports. Back then, Hannegan said, We made an assumption that our WAPA (Western Area Power Administration) allocation would be firm, reliable and always there. Jian Wang of Utahs Center for Colorado River Studies says that means the projections may be too optimistic. Precipitation declines combined with booming urban populations will present a significant challenge to Western water managers in the near future. Last Reading: 3522.33 on Feb 12, 2023. The DROA coordination will continue until either (i) the minimum probable projected elevation remains above 3,525 feet for 24 months or (ii) the process moves to the next step when the most probable projected elevation indicates Powell elevations below 3,525 feet and a Drought Response Operations Plan is developed. Water levels in Lake Powell dropped to a new record low on Tuesday. Close Become a member Login My Account Logout Search for:Search News Education Health Coloradans Equity Sun Investigation Crime and Courts Culture Sports The draft plan is expected to be released next week, according to Becki Bryant, a spokeswoman for Reclamations Upper Colorado River Region. Detailed Map of Powell These long-term projections help water managers plan for future shortages, which are increasingly likely in the Colorado River Basin, in part because of warmer temperatures brought on by global climate change. The most probable inflow scenario reflects a median hydrologic condition which statistically would be exceeded 50 percent of the time. U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Reclamation. Across most of the streams and rivers of the Upper Basin, forecasted runoff ranges from very poor (50% of average) to mediocre (80% of average).. google_color_url = "426C95"; A Tier 3 shortage would impact the amount of . 159 0 obj <> endobj We are 37% through the Water Year. " 9`SADP zg Ab``#@ 7 3 Antelope Point Launch Ramp Bullfrog Main Launch Ramp Powell was last within 2" of this elevation on Feb 11, 2023 There are currently 1,757,155,460,140 gallons of water in Lake Powell! The reduction of releases from Lake Powell from 7.48 maf to 7.00 maf in water year 2022 resulted in a reduced release volume of 0.480 maf that normally would have been released from Glen Canyon Dam to Lake Mead as part of the 7.48 maf annual release volume, consistent with operations under the 2007 Interim Guidelines. 8_9dyB`n`` +30|@,6a # google_color_url = "426C95"; The grim forecast comes as water officials race to bolster Lake Powells water levels. Among the dams on the Colorado is Arizona's Glen Canyon Dam, which creates Lake Powell. Since the beginning of water year 2000, total Colorado Basin storage has experienced year to year increases and decreases in response to wet and dry hydrology, ranging from a high of 94 percent of capacity at the beginning of 2000 to the now current level of 33 percent of capacity at the beginning of water year 2023. SW Satellite Weather Part of the Glen Canyon Conservancy Family, Utah D.O.T Charles Hall Ferry for UT Route 276. GCC is the official nonprofit partner of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area & Rainbow Bridge National Monument. levels. The August 2022 24-Month Study modeled 2023 and 2024 operations at Lakes Powell and Mead as if the 0.480 maf had been delivered to Lake Mead for operating tier/condition purposes both for the U.S. Lower Basin and for Mexico. Fresh Water News is an independent, nonpartisan news initiative of Water Education Colorado. The March 2023 releases are anticipated to fluctuate between a low of 5,276 cfs to a high of 9,641 cfs. Among the dams on the Colorado is Arizonas Glen Canyon Dam, which creates Lake Powell. Credit: Alex Hager. //2006-10-04: news It will be among the lowest years of generation ever, said Nick Williams, power manager for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamations Upper Colorado River Region in an interview last week. Lake Powell