The second-largest US reservoir holds the key to hydropower for 5.8 million Americans — and it's draining fast.
Lake Powell was formed by Glen Canyon Dam in 1966. At full capacity it stores 26.2 million acre-feet. It straddles Utah and Arizona and feeds the lower Colorado River.
Lake Powell hit a record low of 3,522 feet elevation in April 2023 — just 22% full. The famous "bathtub ring" of pale sediment on canyon walls tells the story of decades of decline.
Glen Canyon Dam generates up to 1,320 megawatts — enough to power cities across AZ, CO, UT, WY, NV, NM, and NE. At dead pool (3,490 ft), generation stops entirely.
Three forces: (1) A 23-year megadrought amplified by climate change. (2) The 1922 Colorado River Compact over-allocated water by 3-5M acre-feet per year. (3) Rising temperatures increase evaporation by 3-8% per decade.
CO, WY, UT, NM, NV, AZ, and CA share the Colorado River. Bitter negotiations over new operating rules exposed deep conflicts. A new long-term framework is due by 2026.
Exceptional 2023 snowpack brought partial recovery. But Lake Powell remains below 50% capacity in late 2026. Scientists warn one dry year could erase the gains.
Experts call for renegotiating the 1922 Compact, investing in water recycling, expanding water markets, and reducing agricultural water use (agriculture uses ~80% of Colorado River water).
Follow the Colorado River crisis with data-driven journalism and ESG analysis at Sustainability Awakening.