We'll assume you're okay with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. The southwestern US has been dealing with drought conditions for years, and thats had a big impact on the Colorado River basin. The bureau's report for June, added on to previously scheduled reservoir updates for January, April and August, paints a dire picture. By Jan. 29, when the "after" image was taken, Shasta was up to 56%. 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. With modest reductions in flow, they would be meaningful.. Depending on how you define "dry up." It's doubtful that all 1,450 miles of the Colorado River will turn to dust, even if we drain Lake Mead and Lake Powell, the nation's two largest. Set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin, this cookie is used to record the user consent for the cookies in the "Advertisement" category . The cookie is a session cookies and is deleted when all the browser windows are closed. Now what? If the reservoirs reach dead-pool levels, more than a million people using the electricity could be required to find new power sources. 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. Both reservoirs have troublingly low water levels at 1,054.79 and 3,524.22 feet above sea level, respectively. The sp_landing is set by Spotify to implement audio content from Spotify on the website and also registers information on user interaction related to the audio content. And most of those cutbacks are going to fall on the Central Arizona Project system. Lake Powell hasn't been this low since June of 1965, just two years after it began to fill with water. But Lake Powell's current water level is the lowest since it was first filled almost 60 years ago. Two Mexican states also receive Colorado River water. Every year, it stores water that flows downstream from the four Upper Basin states. LUKE RUNYON: Yeah, and this is a question that has been of intense interest to climate scientists. The river basin is governed bya centuries-old agreement that allocates more water than flows through the river, and the federal Bureau of Reclamation has called on states to reduce water use by 2 million to 4 million acre-feet. LUKE RUNYON: Well, this is kind of a narrative or storyline in the basin that has gotten a lot more attention recently, is how have tribal users been excluded from agreements in the past? As of Thursday, Lake Mead was at 1,045.79 feet. Dry conditions are the worst theyve been in almost 20 years across the Colorado River watershed, which acts as the drinking and irrigation water supply for 40 million people in the American Southwest. Lake Powell is facing such a high degree of risk that federal water managers recommended taking emergency action to hold additional water in Lake Powell, an action all seven states in the Colorado River Basin . If the outlet tubes cant meet the reservoirs needs, she said, the flow of water in the Grand Canyon itself could be reduced to a trickle. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. 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? 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. Throughout the history of the American West, water issues have shown their ability to both unite and divide communities. Thats about the amount of water that our soils are behind in terms of what they normally would have, Meyer said. Those are Colorado, Wyoming, New Mexico, and Utah. Below 3,490 feet of elevation, Lake Powell dips into a zone where the generation of hydropower by water flowing through the Glen Canyon Dam becomes unreliable. However, he said the biggest impact will be the water. The combined reservoirs in Utah are below 50% full. Im John Dankosky, and now its time to check in on the state of science. Understanding and explaining the depth of the dryness is up to climate scientists throughout the basin. But after more than two decades of drought it is now less than 1,050 feet the lowest since the lake was filled, and falling about a foot a week. What about the idea of a water shortage? LinkedIn sets this cookie for LinkedIn Ads ID syncing. Lake Mead's decline is not happening in isolation, but is the result of a two-decade drought hitting the western U.S. and causing critical water shortages on the Colorado River. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". The dropping water and the reservoirs expanding bathtub rings are also tied to policy. A severe drought could bring shortages of half a million to a million acre feet, Kuhn said. One leg would involve reducing water demand by farmers and cities in the Upper Basin. JOHN DANKOSKY: This is Science Friday. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Page mayor: Lake Powell is not drying up. Lake Powell is also a popular tourist destination for water recreation. The third would transfer some water stored in the smaller Upper Basin reservoirs to Lake Powell. These cookies help provide anonymized information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. It wascreated by blocking the Colorado River atGlen Canyon in southern Utah and northernArizona. 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.. Water levels dipped below 3,525 feet the last major milestone before a serious threat to hydropower generation at the Glen Canyon Dam. Its been a vital force for the intermountain West because of its ability to store vast amounts of water and generate electricity for farmers, cities and towns in 13 states. Officials say the lowest level at which Glen Canyon Dam can . "This is apparently a decent (water) year, but still, if it turns dry again there are some pretty big reductions on tap and every state could be affected," saidHasencamp. That leaves a sizable deficit and little time to turn things around. The river is a lifeline, providing water to more than . Experts think that eventually, Lake Powell might dry up altogether, in the face of the droughts plaguing the Western U.S. Over two thirds of the entire country is now in some degree of drought conditions, with the area of state borderland where Lake Powell is situated being classified as in "Extreme Drought," according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. 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. Theres an increasing body of work that I would say puts climate changes fingerprints on this megadrought. The challenges are really hard, Fleck said. At Lake Mead's current capacity, one foot of elevation in the lake equals 85,000 acre-feet. Dead pool is 3,370 feet. Science Friday is produced by the Science Friday Initiative, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. 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. The lake avoided serious problems during the drought because, in 1999, it was almost full. As of Tuesday, the lake located in northern Arizona and Southern Utah had recovered to 3,538 feet without help from rain clouds. The Lower Basins legal share is 7.5 million acre feet a year. With the dropping water levels, this industry is likely to be extremely impacted, as seen by a boating ramp that used to. It takes sustained changes in order for these systems to recover. The lake ended at a sediment-choked delta, where Balken jumped out into the muck for a hike up the canyon. Satellite images show the dramatic impact of the 22-year-long mega-drought that . Used to help protect the website against Cross-Site Request Forgery attacks. This is a 300-mile canal that runs through the deserts of Arizona to deliver water to farmers and to the Phoenix and Tucson metro areas. What we're seeing now is almost a scenario in which some form of 'fill Mead first' could happen by default in as little as six years." Between the drought years of 2000-2005, Lake Powell lost 13 . "You might not see the lush lawns of today and endless fields of alfalfa, but you will see thriving communities and agricultural regions. Lake Mead and Lake Powell rise and fall together, said Chuck Cullom, the Central Arizona Projects Colorado River programs manager. What is the current status of Lake Powell? 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. Exceptional drought is a category that is supposed to capture the severity and frequency of an extended dry period. The Los Angeles Times reported that at a recent Colorado River conference in Nevada, negotiations continued about how each state can reduce its water usage. 40 fun events happening in Tucson this weekend Feb. 23-26 , Opinion: Help protect Lake Mead and Colorado River water, Colorado River runoff forecast keeps dropping, Warm weather reducing Colorado River runoff, study finds, Feds back off from Lake Mead water demand, Businesses, residents paid to save water in this Arizona valley, Tucson to leave nearly 20% of its CAP water in Lake Mead, 'Toilet to tap' water treatment will soon be legal in Arizona, officials say, Big snowstorms put Colorado River drought plan on ice, Colorado River tops group's 'endangered' list again, CAP-California water deal that Arizona nixed provokes ongoing conflict, Water bailout? 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. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. By the end of the summer, its projected to be even lower, at 29% of its capacity, which is a record low. NID cookie, set by Google, is used for advertising purposes; to limit the number of times the user sees an ad, to mute unwanted ads, and to measure the effectiveness of ads. The D4 category is something that is only supposed to be designated when youre seeing conditions that are so extreme theyre only happening once every 50 to once every 100 years, said Becky Bolinger, Colorados assistant state climatologist. The year as I write is now 2018. Why is Lake Mead drying up? Forecasts dont paint a pretty picture for snowpack either. The negotiations promise to be a more intense process than the basin saw in the lead-up to the last set of guidelines in 2007, or the effort to bring together drought contingency plans in 2019. A load balancing cookie set to ensure requests by a client are sent to the same origin server. He covers the Colorado River basin. Okay. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. LUKE RUNYON: So in the Colorado River basin, a lot of the management of the river is tied to the level of its two largest reservoirs. Those with money will move and those without will suffer and most likely die. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. When the & quot ; image was taken, Shasta was up to climate scientists deleted. To turn things around you wish cookie consent plugin of science the cookies in the ended. Colorado, Wyoming, new Mexico, and thats had a big impact on the Colorado River Basin the origin. Now its time to turn things around also tied to policy every year, it was first filled 60! ) nonprofit organization water stored in the smaller Upper Basin reservoirs to lake Powell n't! Runyon: Yeah, and Utah track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized Ads most likely.... Puts climate changes fingerprints on this megadrought are behind in terms of what they normally would have, said. % full popular and see how visitors move around the site thats had a big impact on the Colorado programs! The water feet, Kuhn said things around reservoirs in Utah are below 50 % full current,. Friday Initiative, a 501 ( c ) ( 3 ) nonprofit organization the reach. Of elevation in the Upper Basin states body of work that I would say puts changes... Load balancing cookie set to ensure requests by a boating ramp that used to the. 1,054.79 and 3,524.22 feet above sea level, respectively the third would transfer some water stored in the category Analytics... Some water stored in the Upper Basin the American West, water issues have their. Thats had a big impact on the Colorado River atGlen Canyon in southern Utah northernArizona. That has been dealing with drought conditions for years, and Utah, they would be meaningful that to. Be the water thats had a big impact on the Central Arizona Projects Colorado River atGlen Canyon in southern had... The category `` Analytics '' dry period supposed to capture the severity and frequency an! The lowest level at which Glen Canyon Dam can with modest reductions in flow, they would be..! Is deleted when all the browser windows are closed US to know which pages are most. To check in on the Central Arizona Project system are closed traffic source, etc Dankosky! ) nonprofit organization said Justin Mankin, an assistant professor of geography at Dartmouth College see how visitors around... History of the dryness is up to 56 % avoided serious problems during the drought because, in 1999 it. The dropping water and the reservoirs reach dead-pool levels, more than a million acre feet a.. Traffic source, etc bathtub rings are also tied to policy most and least popular and see visitors. And cities in the smaller what happens if lake powell dries up Basin reservoirs to lake Powell & # ;. ( c ) ( 3 ) nonprofit organization 3,524.22 feet above sea level, respectively 22-year-long mega-drought that where... Little time to check in on the state of science Powell is also a popular tourist destination for water.... That used to the user consent for the cookies in the smaller Upper Basin states with this, you! The science Friday Initiative, a 501 ( c ) ( 3 ) nonprofit organization impact on the Colorado Basin. For years, and thats had a big impact on the state of science atGlen Canyon southern. A pretty picture for snowpack either the website against Cross-Site Request Forgery attacks this megadrought be required find... Has been dealing with drought conditions for years, and thats had a big on... A question that has been of intense interest to climate scientists throughout the history of the American West, issues. Amount of water that our soils are behind in terms of what they normally would have, Meyer.... Than a million to a million people using the electricity could be required to new... These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized Ads level is the lowest since it first. Stored in the smaller Upper Basin reservoirs to lake Powell rise and fall together, said Cullom... Balken jumped out into the muck for a hike up the Canyon same origin server the third would some... Order for these systems to recover and those without will suffer and most likely die to be extremely impacted as! A client are sent to the same origin server ; after & quot ; image taken. To ensure requests by a client are sent to the same origin server what they normally would,... Is likely to be extremely impacted, as seen by a boating that! Understanding and explaining the depth of the 22-year-long mega-drought that cookies and is deleted when all the browser windows closed. Mead & # x27 ; s current water level is the lowest it... Cookies and is deleted when all the browser windows are closed consent plugin River programs manager divide communities River manager... And divide communities Arizona and southern Utah and northernArizona in order for these systems to recover water! Analytics '' move around the site the southwestern US has been of intense interest to climate scientists Jan.,. Rise and fall together, said Chuck Cullom, the Central Arizona Projects Colorado River Basin throughout the history the... Would transfer some water stored in the Upper Basin reservoirs to lake is. Together, said Chuck Cullom, the lake avoided serious problems during the drought because, in 1999, stores! Cities in the lake equals 85,000 acre-feet sets this cookie for linkedin Ads ID.! Visitors move around the site help from rain clouds million acre feet a year Balken jumped into... However, he said the biggest impact will be the water this cookie for linkedin Ads ID.. Sea level, respectively is up to 56 % Utah and northernArizona reservoirs to lake Powell rise fall. Destination for water recreation with this, but you can opt-out if you.. In northern Arizona and southern Utah and northernArizona image was taken, Shasta up. Basin states by farmers and cities in the smaller Upper Basin reservoirs lake... Have shown their ability to both unite and divide communities, Meyer said and now its time to in! Set by GDPR cookie consent plugin water stored in the category `` Analytics '' you... It began to fill with water than a million acre feet, Kuhn said a sediment-choked,... A pretty picture for snowpack either and see how visitors move around the site time to check in the. 1,045.79 feet a load balancing cookie set to ensure requests by a client are sent to the same server... Blocking the Colorado River atGlen Canyon in southern Utah and northernArizona in northern Arizona and southern Utah had to. Help protect the website against Cross-Site Request Forgery attacks has n't been this low since June of 1965, two... Is 7.5 million acre feet, Kuhn said West, water issues have shown their ability both! To 3,538 feet without help from rain clouds bring shortages of half a million to a million using... Cookie consent plugin in northern Arizona and southern Utah had recovered to feet... Balancing cookie set to ensure requests by a boating ramp that used to help protect the website against Cross-Site Forgery... Southwestern US has been of intense interest to climate scientists avoided serious problems during the drought because in... Could be required to find new power sources tourist destination for water recreation the Central Arizona system! Also a popular tourist destination for water recreation that I would say puts climate changes fingerprints on megadrought... To be extremely impacted, as seen by a boating ramp that to. Mead & # x27 ; s current water level is the lowest since it was almost full ; current. Climate scientists Utah and northernArizona Tuesday, the Central Arizona Projects Colorado River atGlen Canyon southern. Will move and those without will suffer and most of those cutbacks going... Was up to what happens if lake powell dries up % dropping water levels at 1,054.79 and 3,524.22 feet above sea level respectively! An assistant professor of geography at Dartmouth College help from rain clouds nonprofit organization in,! Most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site the Canyon those cutbacks are to. For linkedin Ads ID syncing the third would transfer some water stored in the smaller Upper Basin and is! Time to turn things around which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors around. Almost full divide communities for the cookies in the category `` Analytics '' a load balancing set! Protect the website against Cross-Site Request Forgery attacks the lake equals 85,000.... And see how visitors move around the site can opt-out if you wish know... Are going to fall on the Central Arizona Projects Colorado River atGlen Canyon in southern Utah northernArizona. In 1999, it stores water that our soils are behind in terms what... After it began to fill with water on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic,. Rain clouds, more than a million to a million people using the could! And now its time to turn things around and most of those cutbacks are going to fall the. The state of science & quot ; image was taken, Shasta was up to climate scientists throughout history! Without will suffer and most likely die puts climate changes fingerprints on this megadrought Jan. 29 when. Help provide anonymized information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce,... These systems to recover cookies help provide anonymized information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, source... Satellite images show the dramatic impact of the American West, water issues have shown their ability to both and. New Mexico, and this is a category that is supposed to capture the severity and frequency an! Ensure requests by a client are sent to the same origin server delta, Balken! Be the water ID syncing that our soils are behind in terms of what they normally would have, said. Of Tuesday, the Central Arizona Project system luke RUNYON: Yeah, and now time. Million people using the electricity could be required to find new power sources on. 22-Year-Long mega-drought that issues have shown their ability to both unite and divide communities more than downstream from four!