Areas like the Klamath River and the Colorado River Basins are suffering from a drought crisis.
The United States government recently declared the first-ever water shortage at Lake Mead because of the historic drought in the Western U.S.
“The latest outlook for Lake Powell is troubling,” Reclamation’s Upper Colorado Basin Regional Director Wayne Pullan said on the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s website. “This highlights the importance of continuing to work collaboratively with the basin states, Tribes and other partners toward solutions.”
The Department of the Interior and the Biden administration are working to support affected communities and create long-term climate change efforts.
“There is little to no livestock feed available in the West, farmers are considering selling their livestock or land, and many species of wildlife are suffering from wildfires and lack of water,” Democratic Reps. Joe Neguse, of Colorado, and Jared Huffman, of California, wrote in a letter to the president in August, CNBC reported.
One way Biden is addressing climate change is his Build Back Better Agenda. It’s a plan that includes creating clean energy jobs, according to the White House website.
“We’re providing detailed information on our modeling and projections to further generate productive discussions about the future of Lake Powell and Lake Mead based on the best data available,” Reclamation’s Lower Colorado Basin Regional Director Jacklynn Gould said. “Being prepared to adopt further actions to protect the elevations at these reservoirs remains a Reclamation priority and focus.”
The bureau has released updated modeling projections and both Lake Powell and Lake Mead could reach critically low elevations according to the models. Lake Powell could go below the minimum power pool next July if the weather remains dry. Supplemental water deliveries have begun to protect Lake Powell and the Glen Canyon Dam infrastructure.
If drought conditions continue, Lake Powell's level could drop so low that the Glen Canyon Dam would not generate hydroelectricity. The BLM projects there is a 3% chance next year, a risk that grows to 34% in 2023, if conditions stay the same.
The Biden administration and the Interior Department are implementing a whole-of-government approach to drought prevention. An Interagency Drought Relief Working Group is working to find and distribute financial and technical assistance for irrigators and Tribes affected by the drought.
