CNN
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A recent report reveals that Lake Powell, currently the second-largest artificial reservoir in the United States, has experienced a loss of nearly 7% in its storage capacity since the construction of the Glen Canyon Dam in 1963.
Alongside water depletion prompted by an extreme multi-year drought, findings from the US Geological Survey and the Bureau of Reclamation indicated that from 1963 to 2018, Lake Powell experienced an average yearly decline in storage capacity of about 33,270 acre-feet, which equates to 11 billion gallons annually.
This volume of water could refill the Reflecting Pool on the National Mall approximately 1,600 times.
Per the report, the reservoir’s storage is diminishing due to sediment flowing in from the Colorado and San Juan rivers. This sediment accumulates at the reservoir’s bottom, reducing the total water storage capacity.
As of Monday, data from the Bureau of Reclamation indicates that Lake Powell was about 25% full.
This is troubling news for a region already grappling with water scarcity and severe wildfires attributed to the drought. Last week, experts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration indicated these conditions are likely to persist – or possibly escalate – in the upcoming months.
Lake Powell serves as a vital reservoir within the Colorado River Basin. Both Lake Powell and the adjacent Lake Mead, the largest reservoir in the country, are showing alarming rates of depletion. In August, the federal administration announced a water shortage on the Colorado River for the first occasion following the decline of Lake Mead’s water levels to unprecedented levels, resulting in mandatory cutbacks in water use for states in the Southwest starting in January.
Furthermore, last week, Lake Powell fell below the critical threshold of 3,525 feet above sea level, heightening concerns regarding water supplies and hydropower production essential for millions in the West who depend on it for electricity.
The importance of the diminishing water supply along the Colorado River cannot be emphasized enough.
The system provides water for over 40 million individuals residing across seven Western states and Mexico. Lakes Powell and Mead are crucial for supplying drinking water and irrigation for many in the region, which includes rural farms, ranches, and Native American communities.
“It is crucial that we have the most accurate scientific information, such as this report, to foster a clear understanding of Lake Powell’s water availability as we strategize for the future,” stated Tanya Trujillo, assistant secretary for water and science at the US Department of Interior. “The Colorado River system is facing numerous challenges, including a 22-year-long drought and the escalating impacts of climate change.”
