Lake Powell falls to record low, nearing hydropower cutoff
Why it matters: The reservoir is about 30 feet from the level where turbines stop, threatening water and power supplies tied to the Colorado River.
Lake Powell, the second-largest reservoir in the United States, fell to a record low on Saturday, deepening the crisis across the Colorado River system. The reservoir dropped to 3,519.91 feet above sea level, just below its previous low set in April 2023, according to U.S. Bureau of Reclamation data. Powell is now more than 20 feet lower than at the start of the year and about 30 feet from the point where hydroelectric turbines would stop operating. The decline follows Lake Mead reaching a historic low about a week earlier. Federal officials and seven Western states are still trying to agree on a long-term water management plan as persistent overuse, a record-dry winter and rising temperatures drain the basin.