Lake Powell’s total capacity is shrinking, report shows
CNN
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Lake PowellA new report shows that the second largest man-made reservoir in the United States has lost nearly 7% of its potential storage capacity since the completion of Glen Canyon Dam in 1963.
In addition to water loss Severe drought in consecutive yearsU.S. Geological Survey and Bureau of Reclamation Report findingsBetween 1963 and 2018, Lake Powell faced an average annual loss of approximately 33,270 acre feet, or 11 billion gallons, of storage capacity.
That’s enough water to fill the National Mall’s Reflecting Pool approximately 1,600 times.
Reservoir capacity is shrinking due to the influx of sediment from the reservoir. Colorado and San Juan riversAccording to reports. These sediments settle on the bottom of the reservoir and reduce the total amount of water the reservoir can hold.
As of Monday, Lake Powell was about 25% full, according to the Bureau of Reclamation.
That’s bad news for a region already facing water shortages and severe wildfires due to drought. Drought experts at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said last week that these conditions expected to continue at least – if not worse – in the coming months.
Lake Powell is an important reservoir in the Colorado River Basin. Lake Powell and nearby Lake Mead, the largest reservoir in the United States, are draining at alarming rates. In August, the federal government declared a water shortage in the Colorado River for the first time after Lake Mead’s water level rose. hit unprecedented lowstriggering mandatory water consumption reductions in southwestern states starting in January.
Last week, Lake Powell dip below The critical threshold of 3,525 feet raises additional concerns about water supplies and hydroelectric power that millions of people in the West rely on.
The importance of reduced water supplies along the Colorado River cannot be overstated.
The system supplies water to more than 40 million people living in seven western states and Mexico. Lakes Powell and Mead provide critical drinking water and irrigation to many people in the region, including rural farms, ranches, and Native communities.
“Having the best available scientific information like this report is critical for us to have a clear picture of Lake Powell’s water availability as we plan for the future,” said Tanya Trujillo, U.S. Department of the Interior Assistant Secretary for Water and Science, in a statement. said in a statement. “The Colorado River system faces multiple challenges, including the effects of a 22-year drought and the intensifying impacts of climate change.”
