In order to respond to dropping water levels in Lake Powell, the Bureau of Reclamation announced new urgent drought response actions.
The Bureau confirmed it will utilize a 2019 Drought Contingency Plan, which proposes diverting roughly 500,000 acre-feet of water from Flaming Gorge Reservoir to Lake Powell, according to a May 3 news release.
The release also notes this elevation is a significant concern for reservoir operations and water delivery at Glen Canyon Dam as the facility has not operated at such levels for an extended length of time.
“Today’s decision reflects the truly unprecedented challenges facing the Colorado River Basin and will provide operational certainty for the next year," Assistant Secretary for Water and Science Tanya Trujillo stated in the release. "Everyone who relies on the Colorado River must continue to work together to reduce uses and think of additional proactive measure we can take in the months and years ahead to rebuild our reservoirs.”
The Bureau has also opted to retain 480 acre-feet of water in Lake Powell by delaying the annual water release from Glen Canyon Dam, the release reported.
Lake Powell's water surface elevation currently sits at 3,522 feet, which is the lowest level it has recorded since it was first filled in the 1960s, according to the release. Lake Powell has a critical elevation of 3,490 feet, which is the minimum level at which Glen Canyon Dam can produce hydroelectric power.
In addition to fulfilling the shortage restrictions of the 2007 Interim Guidelines and the 2019 Drought Contingency Plan, water users are developing new conservation measures to save an extra 500 acre-feet of water of water in Lake Mead between 2022 and 2023, the release reported.
“By working together, water users in Arizona, California and Nevada will continue to make all required shortage reductions and water savings contributions in accordance with the basin’s Drought Contingency Plan and 2007 Interim Guidelines,” said Lower Colorado Regional Director Jaci Gould in the release. “But given the impacts of climate change, it’s clear that everyone has to do more to protect our reservoirs – and that means using water with maximum efficiency.”
These measures are anticipated to happen between May 2022 and April 2023, according to the release.
