Lake Mead, Lake Powell Get Boost But Warnings Remain
Summary
Recent storms raised Lake Powell more than 20 feet from its mid-September low and lifted Lake Mead slightly. The reservoirs remain critically low, and water experts say the gains do not resolve concerns about Colorado River supplies or the reservoirs’ long-term outlook.Key Facts
- U.S. Geological Survey provisional data showed Lake Powell rising from about 3,519 feet in mid-September to more than 3,541 feet by November 9.
- Reclamation data showed Lake Mead rising from 1,038.44 feet on September 17 to 1,039.66 feet by the weekend.
- On November 8, Lake Mead was 27 percent full and Lake Powell was 26 percent full, according to Reclamation.
- Federal water managers have described the Colorado River Basin drought as unprecedented and lasting multiple decades.
- Recent storms caused damaging floods and evacuations in parts of the Southwest.
- Water experts said a single year of substantial precipitation would not be enough to restore the Colorado River system.
- The Glen Canyon Institute supports a proposal called “Fill Mead First,” which would make Lake Mead the main storage reservoir and Lake Powell a backup.
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