lake powell water level forecast 2022
30.12.2020, , 0
Committee on the Scientific Bases of Colorado River Basin Water Management, National Research Council. Lund said he expects water use in the basin to have "capped out," but the reservoir can't continue to supply water at the pace in which the area consumes it. . Upper Colorado River Basin regularly experiences significant year to year hydrologic variability. According to Jay Lund, vice director for the Center for Watershed Sciences and a professor at the University of California, the long-term average use in the lower Colorado River Basin exceeds the long-term flow of water, meaning the only solution is to "substantially reduce water use" in the basin. The Water Desks mission isto increase the volume, depth and power of journalismconnected to Western water issues. Late last fall WAPA, which operates the electric grid and distributes the power to utilities, raised rates 30% to cover reductions in power revenue. The drop in the power forecast comes as Upper Colorado River Basin states of Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming prepare to finalize a new drought operations plan for the giant river system. The declines were first apparent in the side canyons feeding the reservoir which thinned and then shortened. 0 These instantaneous release adjustments stabilize the electrical generation and transmission system and translate to a range of about 1,300 cfs above or below the hourly scheduled release rate. google_color_text = "000000"; The probable maximum inflow scenario reflects a wet hydrologic condition which statistically would be exceeded 10 percent of the time. Click below for water level and accessibity updates about the launch ramps and services near you. The NOAA forecast center begins releasing monthly water supply forecasts for the Colorado River Basin in December. Among the dams on the Colorado is Arizonas Glen Canyon Dam, which creates Lake Powell. Water supply forecast volumes decreased across most of the region, Moser said during the webinar. Reclamation will also ensure all appropriate consultation with Basin Tribes, the Republic of Mexico, other federal agencies, water users and non-governmental organizations with respect to implementation of these monthly and annual operations. 192 0 obj <>stream swE{,,;o0U|+/ :u7j@;pGh00gr\j30sAD+ ON 9 System emergencies occur fairly infrequently and typically require small responses from Glen Canyon Dam. Snow levels will fall to the lowest locations Wednesday night into Thursday morning, before the storm exits eastern Arizona Thursday afternoon. average basin temperatures and precipitation for the forecast period. Shifting the period of record decreased the average unregulated inflow 1.20 maf. Reclamation will continue to consult with the Basin States, Basin Tribes, the Republic of Mexico and other partners on Colorado River operations to consider and determine whether additional measures should be taken to further enhance the preservation of these benefits, as well as recovery protocols, including those of future protective measures for both Lakes Powell and Mead. Newsweek reached out to the U.S. Geological Survey for comment. However, the Bureau of Reclamation's 24-month forecast that was just released at the end of last week projects Lake Mead to be at 1,041.10 feet in January 2023. That projection is about 12 feet higher than the 2023 end-of-year mark in the bureau's forecast from December. As a news piece, this article cites verifiable, third-party sources which have all been thoroughly fact-checked and deemed credible by the Newsroom in accordance with the Civil Constitution. Antelope Point Launch Ramp Bullfrog Main Launch Ramp 2018 brought some relief after a wet winter. We need to get ourselves prepared," he says. //-->, Printable Version Lake Powell water level at Wahweap Marina in September 2021 | Photo by Bureau of Reclamation, St. George News . He also was an associate editor at 5280 and a reporter for the Vail Daily. For additional information, see the following news release: https://www.usbr.gov/newsroom/#/news-release/4196. Drop us a note at tips@coloradosun.com. Everyone Practices Cancel Culture | Opinion, Deplatforming Free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion. Upper Colorado Region Water Operations: Current Status: Lake Powell, Spring Snow Brings Moisture to Colorado Front Range, NASA Goddard Space At the beginning of water year 2023, total system storage in the Colorado River Basin was 19.54 maf (33 percent of 58.48 maf total system capacity). Boats docked at Lake Powell on July 13 . KNAU's Melissa Sevigny reports. Lake Powells side branches had all retreated compared to the previous years extents. The forecast estimated that the amount of water that will flow into Lake Powell this spring and summer will be about 59% of average, based on 30 years of data from 1991 to 2020. Precipitation declines combined with booming urban populations will present a significant challenge to Western water managers in the near future. But generally below-normal precipitation the last several months after a very wet December.. Lake Powell