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Lake Powell has dropped to below 50 percent of capacity. Photo courtesy U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.
Colorado River Basin storage expected to drop to 50 percent of average by end of summer
By Summit Voice
FRISCO — Lake Powell won’t be looking its best for its 50th birthday this year. The key reservoir in the Colorado River Basin is almost 100 feet below full pool and recently dipped to below 50 percent capacity, according to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s operations update.
Specifically, the reservoir level was 98.5 feet below full as of March 11, and at 49 percent of capacity. Water managers expect the reservoir level to continue dropping for at least several more weeks before it begins to refill with spring snow melt and runoff.
But just how much it refills remains to be seen. Snowpack in the Colorado River Basin has been bumped up by February and March storms, but BuRec estimates that inflow for the key April to July runoff season will total just 3.4 million acre feet, which is 47 percent of average. Releases for the 2013 water year are projected to total 8.23 million acre feet, which would draw the reservoir down to about 44 percent of capacity by the end of the current water year.
Based on current conditions and projections for the next few months, the Colorado River Basin is expected to deliver just 49 percent of the average annual flows, with basin-wide reservoir storage dropping to about 50 percent of capacity by the end of September.
Filed under: Colorado, Environment, rivers, water Tagged: | Colorado River, Colorado River Basin, Lake Powell, Lake Powell water level, water
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Powder's falling at Monarch!! Have you reserved your spot yet?
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What does this mean for hydropower generation? Also, what about water level and power downstream at Hoover Dam? And further, water supply to all diversions?
Hi Bert, there’s some info on downstream deliveries in the BuRec link, not sure what it means for upstream deliveries at this point. Probably not a whole lot until we get to the point of a compact call. Also, did you see this study? http://summitcountyvoice.com/2013/02/24/water-lake-powell-may-dry-up-within-a-few-decades/
I live in the Owens Valley of Eastern California. This January and February we got almost zero precipitation. The snowpack is around 50% of average and January and February were the driest January or February ever, on record.
Hi Paul, thanks for the Owens Valley update. Your comment made me think of cold milk shakes on hot days in Olancha. I lived at Crowley Lake for many years, so I still feel a connection to the Eastern Sierra. Hope the spring gets wetter for you.
[...] Water: Lake Powell dips under 50 percent of capacity (Summit County Citizens Voice) [...]
I’m wondering about how this will change boating and houseboat recreation this year. Have marine charts been redrawn to show underwater hazards? Expecting to hear, “Hey! that wasn’t there last year.” Odds are good bent propellers will be a common marine repair.