Severe Drought Prompts Water Releases from Upper Basin Reservoirs in Colorado River
• The Bureau of Reclamation will release water from Flaming Gorge Reservoir to raise Lake Powell's water level.
• Lake Powell's water level is dangerously low due to severe drought and reduced snowpack.
• Long-term water conservation measures are needed to address water scarcity in the Colorado River Basin.
Bureau of Reclamation addresses severe drought impact
The Bureau of Reclamation is taking emergency action to address the severe drought impacting the Colorado River Basin. An upcoming release of 600,000 to 1 million acre-feet of water from Flaming Gorge Reservoir, located on the Wyoming-Utah border, is planned to elevate Lake Powell's water level by 54 feet by April 2027. Currently, Lake Powell stands at 3,528 feet, with 3,490 feet marking the critical level below which hydropower generation at Glen Canyon Dam ceases.
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