Why It Matters
Federal water managers are draining up to 1 million acre-feet from a Wyoming reservoir over the next year in an emergency effort to keep Lake Powell from losing its ability to generate electricity. The move will drop Flaming Gorge Reservoir by approximately 35 feet, affecting boating and recreation at the popular Wyoming-Utah border destination.
Without the emergency release, Lake Powell could fall below the minimum elevation needed for hydropower generation by August, threatening electricity supplies across the Southwest and risking structural failure at Glen Canyon Dam.
What Happened
The Bureau of Reclamation announced Friday it will release between 660,000 and 1 million acre-feet of water from Flaming Gorge Reservoir into the Colorado River system. Officials will simultaneously reduce outflows from Lake Powell by about 1.5 million acre-feet through September.
Lake Powell currently faces projections showing it could drop below 3,490 feet in elevation without major intervention. That threshold marks the minimum power pool, the point at which Glen Canyon Dam can no longer produce electricity. If the reservoir falls further, the dam itself faces structural failure risks.
The combined actions aim to raise Lake Powell’s elevation by approximately 54 feet to reach at least 3,500 feet by April 2027, according to the agency.
By the Numbers
Flaming Gorge Reservoir currently sits at about 83 percent capacity with a maximum volume of 3.8 million acre-feet. The emergency release will drop water levels by roughly 35 feet over the next 12 months.
Lake Powell’s critical minimum power pool sits at 3,490 feet elevation. The Colorado River system supplies water to 40 million people across seven states.
Federal officials plan to reduce Lake Powell outflows by 1.5 million acre-feet through September as part of the emergency response.
Zoom Out
The Bureau of Reclamation is not tapping other backup reservoirs above Lake Powell. Blue Mesa Reservoir in Colorado and Navajo Reservoir in New Mexico will not face additional releases due to their already low water levels and poor inflow forecasts.
Drought response plans remain fluid, the agency warned, noting it will maintain operational flexibility as conditions develop. Wyoming water officials had warned stakeholders earlier this month to expect a significant draw from Flaming Gorge.
Lower flow rates in the Grand Canyon will affect rafting conditions and make fishing more challenging, the bureau noted.
What’s Next
Boating access at Flaming Gorge may be reduced earlier in the season than normal as water levels drop. Federal officials will continue monitoring Colorado River Basin conditions and may adjust release schedules based on precipitation and runoff patterns through the spring.
The emergency measures represent the latest effort to stabilize a water system under severe strain from prolonged drought conditions across the Southwest.
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