Shrinking Lake Powell and Lake Mead Water Levels Spark New Record
Summary
Low water levels at Lake Powell and Lake Mead drove Southwest hydropower generation to a record low this summer. Output from April through August was 19% lower than the same period last year and 28% below the 10-year average.Key Facts
- Lake Powell and Lake Mead reached record-low levels after prolonged drought in the Colorado River Basin.
- At the end of September, Lake Powell was 3,518 feet above sea level, 28 feet above the minimum level needed to generate power at Glen Canyon Dam.
- Lake Mead stood at 1,038 feet, 88 feet above the minimum level needed to generate power at Hoover Dam.
- The Colorado River Basin serves about 40 million people and supports water supplies, agriculture, and electricity generation.
- Hydropower is forecast to provide about 4% of the Southwest's electricity in 2026, down from 8% in 2011.
- Southwest hydropower generation is expected to total 6.13 billion kilowatt-hours in 2026, about 9% below 2025.
- Water releases from Flaming Gorge Reservoir helped support Lake Powell, while releases from Lake Powell were reduced to preserve its elevation.
- California, Arizona, and Nevada are required to reduce water use by a combined 1.25 million acre-feet annually over the next two years.
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