The lake's supply isn't just important to surrounding communities for water, but as it's also formed by the Hoover Dam on the Colorado Riverwhich generates electricity for thousands of people. The states are under pressure from the federal government to agree on cuts to prevent reservoirs from dropping to dangerously low levels. LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) - As of Sunday the depth of Lake Mead is a little over 1045 feet above sea level. "But, more importantlyif and when Hoover Dam stops producing electricityit will call into question our very assumptions for how we manage water and energy in the southwestern U.S.," said Gerlak, who is also director at the university's Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy. Lake Mead's water levels did start to rise in August this year . If correct, these numbers will present a completely different situation to last year. Wa. At this level, water would not flow past the dam, meaning it would not be able to generate electricity. However, Lake Mead remains almost 180 feet lower than its full pool water level. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) Snow is forecast every day this week in the heart of the Colorado Rockies, and snowpack levels have climbed to nearly 150% as warmer spring temperatures near. Amazons Prime Day is basically summers Black Friday with massive discounts. The Colorado River Basin very well could get a few wet years, he said. Capitol rioter Taylor Taranto was recently arrested after filming himself outside of former President Barack Obama's residence in Washington, D.C. A stock photo shows Lake Mead, the reservoir that is drying up due to drought. But the megadrought over the last 23 years the most severe in centuries has worsened the water deficit and left Lake Mead about 70% empty. The beginning of April is regarded as the typical peak of snowpack levels when spring temperatures rise and snow begins to melt faster than new snow accumulates. A two-year probabilistic projection of the Colorado River system from the Bureau of Reclamation has revealed that Lake Mead could reach 992 feet by the end of July 2024. The lake is integral to surrounding communities, as it is also formed by the Hoover Dam on the Colorado Riverwhich generates electricity for thousands of people. Scientists are putting it mainly down to human-driven climate change. Child critically wounded by stray bullet during Fourth of July celebrations in South L.A. Imelda Padilla installed as temporary City Council member. ", How does climate change affect you?Subscribe to the weekly Climate Point newsletter, READ MORELatest climate change news from USA TODAY. However, while the water levels have risen slightly, the future still looks dire for the reservoir. In recent years, hot, dry conditions have led to reduced flows in the river. This is 21 feet lower than the levels recorded at the same point in 2022, and 38 feet lower than the same point in 2021. Even then, because the demand is so high, it still wouldnt fill, Hasencamp said in an interview. Built in the 1930s, it's the largest reservoir in the U.S. by volume. At the heart of tensions over water allotments from the Colorado River is a complex set of agreements and decrees known as the Law of the River.. Based on the low levels of Lake Mead and Lake Powell, Udall said, he would estimate that refilling the reservoirs would take roughly six consecutive extremely wet years, with water flows similar to those in 2011. The high flows that follow the initial release could affect the difficulty of some of the rapids within the canyons, according to the NPS. A graph shows the three scenarios for Lake Mead's water levels over the next year, and into 2024. Thats why there is more water coming from out of Powell in April than originally anticipated.. "The first is wishing for high flow years and the other is cutting demand. The Rocky Mountains snow season is off to a well-above-average start thanks to a recent surge of stormy weather across the West. Save big on popular items during Amazon Prime Day 2023. The last 23 years are the best lessons we have right now, and they should scare the pants off of people, said Udall, who has been a co-author of research showing how warming is sapping the rivers flows. Jennifer Pitt, Colorado River program director with the National Audubon Society, an environmental organization, previously told Newsweek: "The Colorado River has experienced an extended drought for the past 23 years, exacerbated by climate change. Lake Mead: Where Does It Get Its Water and Is It Filling Up? - Newsweek There is always the chance of a few extremely wet years with the potential to refill reservoirs, Pierce said. It is easy to lose sight of this when we see the heavy rains and flooding in California, and the destruction they have brought to some communities," Gerlak said. Do you have a question about Lake Mead and water levels? Billions of gallons of water are being released from Lake Powell and dumped into waterways along the Grand Canyon, according to federal environmental agencies. The former and current president both shared Independence Day messages on social media on Tuesday. California continues using the single largest share of the river. Lake Mead could reach as low as 992 feet by the end of July 2024, Finally a Judge Stands Up to Biden's Abuse of Power & Suppression of Speech, Trump Judge's Social Media Ruling Is Bonkers, Donald Trump's 4th of July Message Was Very Different From Joe Biden's, Capitol Rioter Has Ominous Warning for Kevin McCarthy, Hidden Pecan Grove Revealed in Lake Travis as Water Level Falls, Mike Pence Warns American Troops May Have to Fight Russia, Joe Biden's Social Media Ban Explained as Judge Restricts White House. In 2000, it was nearly full and lapping at the spillway gates. Climate change has dramatically altered the river. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images The West's high-elevation snow is a natural reservoir, storing water throughout the. Theyre not going to refill. In other words, this is the best case scenario. The exact future of Lake Mead is hard to predict. Let us know via science@newsweek.com. 13, 2022 at 7:22 PM PDT. Of course a burger and explore are to be involved. NEWS:Spring ocean temperatures are shockingly hot around the globe. The increase pushed measurements in the Lower San Juan region to more than triple whats considered a normal year. According to a Maximum Probable Inflow 24 month report released in April 2023, Lake Mead's water levels could rise to 1,060.30 feet by the end of July 2023. It provides water for around 40 million people in the surrounding areas, and supplies water to 5 million acres of farmland. Tap to enable a layout that focuses on the article. After falling to record lows in 2022, Lake Mead has seen its water levels rise 3 feet above projections after a precipitation-heavy winter. But it was also the year they rose slightly for the first time in three years. Lying on the Nevada-Arizona border, Lake Mead provides essential water for drinking and agriculture for around 25 million people across the U.S. Southwest. Federal agency the Bureau of Reclamation predicts that Lake Mead could reach 1,013 feet by 2024. And Lake Mead today, Jan. 31 2023. On February 1 in 2022 and 2021, respectively, the water levels were at 1,067.14 and 1,086.1 feet above sea level. Thats especially true when it comes to 4K TVs. Years of drying have taken a toll at the rivers source in the Rockies. Scientists have warned of a coming crisis for many years. This is because the region was hit by the wettest monsoon season the Las Vegas Valley has seen in a decade. In the 1950s, 60s, 70s and 80s, there was no Central Arizona Project, there was no Southern Nevada Water Authority, there was not nearly as much use in the Upper [Colorado River] Basin, said Bill Hasencamp, manager of Colorado River resources for the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. In this very special first report of 2023, we cover some important topics surrounding the lake and look ahead to what this new year might bring. By contrast, Shasta Lake can hold about 4.6 million acre-feet, and Lake Oroville 3.5 million acre-feet. Federal officials are developing a planthat wouldforce the seven states and Native American tribes using Colorado River water to use less of it. "There's been a good start to the snowfall season, but it is way too early to know what runoff will look like," she said. 'A nice sign': Big Rockies snowpack may boost Lake Mead Particularly low water levels have been recorded in Memphis, Tennessee, where levels have dropped to as low as -6.1 feet as of November 15. Do you have a tip on a science story that Newsweek should be covering? Lake Powell's official full level is 3,700 feet, and it topped out at3,708 feet in 1983. The release volume fromGlenCanyonDam for April 2023 will beincreased to 910,000 acre-feet because of the increased snowpack throughout March, Reclamation Public Affairs Officer Becki Bryant told 8 News Now. Snow melt in Colorado mountains may send water to Lake Powell, Lake Mead To refill the Colorado River reservoirs, you would need three average years of snowfall without any water use.". This summer, the lake's levels have been . A hint of that came last week when the Southern Nevada Water Authority said it was spending $1.4 million to study whether it needs to lower the intake level for the third-straw at Lake Mead. 9. signs new law to deter reckless driving after, Las Vegas police: 1 killed in crash, car fire, Las Vegas police: Imposter scams target local businesses, Top ZIP codes with highest illegal fireworks complaints, Tips on how to protect your car from Las Vegas heat, Man shot by Turnberry Towers employee misses court, Man shot in head in Las Vegas after he allegedly, Las Vegas parents sue RTC, driver after son pleaded, Las Vegas lawyer warns trespassers family who made, Las Vegas-area casino theft cage scheme involves, Las Vegas man avoids jail sentence despite repeated, Vegas Golden Knights re-sign goalie Adin Hill to, NFL suspends 3 players indefinitely for violating, MLB to start months-long approval process for Oakland, Sad for Oakland: Players, city react to As Las, $380 million funding plan for As stadium wins final, PHOTOS: Vegas Golden Knights win Stanley Cup championship, Celebrating Hoops & Culture: The Official NBA Con, Celebrate National Fried Chicken Day With Houston, Celebrate the 4th of July with Red, White, & Views, Gifting You A Cool Day Vote For Winners, Experimental water release continues Lake Meads rise, Vertical speedboat at Lake Mead returns to the water, Best early Prime Day deals for $100 or less, Kingmaker California? Colorado River crisis is so bad, lakes Mead and Powell are unlikely to Drought is also affecting water levels that fluctuate seasonally due to winter snowpack flowing down from the Rocky Mountains. Last year, Nevada had a status of being 8 percent in an exceptional drought. As of Wednesday, April 12, 2023, Lake Powells water level remains at a historic low and has dropped almost two feet since March 30. Lake Mead's water level stands at 1,045 feet as of January 8, 2023. Lake Mead's water level stands at 1,045 feet as of January 8, 2023. The lake has lost another 6 feet of water in just . "Today the water uses allowed by law are more than the river gets in an average year, so until the rules are changed it is unlikely the reservoirs will fill.". Correction 2/2/23: This article was updated to state that increased snowpack on the Rocky Mountains will feed Lakes Mead and Powell. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) Encouraging news continues to flow about water levels at Lake Mead. Californias Sierra Nevada snowpack is now about 200% of average at this point in the season, while the snowpack in the Upper Colorado River Basin so far stands at about 140% of the median over the last 30 years. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation has announced that increased releases from Lake Powell will continue through the end of May. Combined, they are today only about 26%full. Jennifer Pitt, Colorado River program director with the National Audubon Society, an environmental organization, told Newsweek: "The vast majority of water in the Colorado River is created by snowfall in the mountains of Colorado, Wyoming, Utah and New Mexico. Tom Corringham, a research economist at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego, previously told Newsweek: "Statewide snowpack in Colorado is about 120 percent of normal this year, which is a good thing, but refilling Lake Mead and Lake Powell will take years of above-average snowfall. Lake Mead could be around 22 feet higher than it was last Oct. 1, although still about 160 feet below full. The U.S. Drought Monitor shows that between October last year and January 24, 2023, the percentage of Nevada suffering from Extreme Drought decreased from 44.61 to 18.53, with the rest of the state experiencing Moderate Drought and Severe Drought. The influx of rain pummeling Nevada and neighboring state California is likely to raise the lake's water level slightlyas will the snowpack that built up during the recent winter storms. "But what happens during drought is that the rains that would refill this groundwater end up just refilling the dry root zone and either delaying or preventing recharging of the groundwater system that supplies streams and reservoirs.". 2 arrested in possible road rage incident: police, ZIP codes with highest fireworks complaints for 2023, 7-Eleven clerk shot woman over stolen salad, police, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Lake Mead's water levels are in a dire state. Hourly releases during April 2023 will fluctuate from a low of approximately 10,533 cubic feet per second (cfs) during the early morning hours to a high of 18,533 cfs during the afternoon and evening hours, Bryant said. The plans were presented at the end of January one from California, and another one signed by Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. Ian James is a reporter who focuses on water in California and the West. The sudden rainfall sweeping the region has even changed Nevada's normally static drought status. He said the only real solution is to use less water. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. They are balancing the two reservoirs Powell and Mead, Weisheit said. signs new law to deter reckless driving, Canadas government to stop advertising on Facebook, A long-unidentified murder victim in Canada was a, BestReviews.com - Top gifts to make everyone happy this summer. What products should you buy this Prime Day? Water levels at the lake have risen slightly thanks to heavy rainfall sweeping across the region. Rong-Gong Lin II is a Metro reporter based in San Francisco who specializes in covering statewide earthquake safety issues and the COVID-19 pandemic. Similar to the Sierra Nevada, the Upper Colorado River Basin - Wyoming, Colorado, Utah and northwestern New Mexico - has a healthy snowpack this year, and it's looking like a very good water year there. A dramatic video showed the valves at the dam opening releasing a torrent of water downriver. However the state is still 24 percent in an extreme drought and 78 percent in a severe drought. Thats especially true when it comes to 4K TVs. Last year it ended the year at 3,524 feet. The former and current president both shared Independence Day messages on social media on Tuesday. Water levels were the highest they have ever been in the 1980s, reaching 1,225 feet, but since then they have steadily fallen. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Lake Mead Water Levels Before and After Drought Is Sobering Shot - MSN This, in other words, is a best-case scenario for the drought-stricken reservoir. But one single good water year is not going to fill Lake Mead and Lake Powell. This was the lowest water levels have been since the lake was first . Local News Lake Mead's unexpected April water level rise continues by: Duncan Phenix, Greg Haas Posted: Apr 12, 2023 / 01:01 PM PDT Updated: Apr 13, 2023 / 08:33 AM PDT LAS VEGAS ( KLAS) In a surprising move, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation is releasing much more water from Lake Powell in an effort to shore up Lake Mead's water level. 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Keto watchers beware! Published: Jun. US officials announce nuclear fusion breakthrough endured Hurricane Ian with no loss of power and minimal damage The cuts that are needed are on an unprecedented scale, and officials will be. The U.S. Drought Monitor has changed Nevada's status to 0 percent in an exceptional drought, due to the rainfall. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Thirty years ago, the peaks stay covered by late May or early June. As for the future, Jacobs said a great deal depends on whether greenhouse gas emissions are reduced to net zero in the near term., There are workable ways of managing reduced water supplies from the river, she said. 'A nice sign': Big Rockies snowpack may boost Lake Mead "The Bureau of Reclamation's latest studies expect water flows to continue to decline in the Basin this year. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Andrea Gerlak, professor at the School of Geography, Development & Environment at the University of Arizona, previously told Newsweek that Lake Mead is "dangerously close" to hitting a low enough elevation for it to stop turning the turbines, and producing electricity. 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Glen Canyon Dam holds back Colorado River water to create Lake Powell on April 15, 2023 in Lake Page, Arizona. This year's unusually deep Rocky Mountain snowpack is now expected to lift both Lake Mead and Lake Powell from critically low water storage levels and leave them about one-third full, federal. This is because this stretch of drought gripping the region has been drier than any other recorded in the U.S. in the past 1,200 years. How much wont be clear for a few months. Scientists are putting it mainly down to human-driven climate change. Lake Mead edging closer to another shortage by end of 2022 - 12news.com Lake Mead can store more than 27 million acre-feet of water, and Lake Powell 25 million acre-feet. Lake Mead is the largest reservoir in the U.S., formed by the Hoover Dam on the Colorado River. California reservoir water levels before and after rain. Weisheit, who lives in Moab, Utah, said, The high-altitude scree of the La Sal Mountain peaks outside of Moab are visible from my backyard. Lake Mead could still tank in 2023, despite all we've done to save it Opinion: The May forecast suggests water levels at Lake Mead could hit dangerous new lows next year, erasing the. In this spring water level report, we'll look into the record rain and snow that plummeted the west since the start of . There has been less rainfall and not as much winter snowpack flowing down from the mountains. According to a Maximum Probable Inflow 24 month report released in April 2023, Lake Mead's water levels could rise to 1,060.30 feet by the end of July 2023. But the megadrought. The Colorado Headwaters region which should benefit from snowfall this week remained at 127% of normal. Capitol rioter Taylor Taranto was recently arrested after filming himself outside of former President Barack Obama's residence in Washington, D.C. A stock photo shows a river bed ravaged with drought, next to Lake Mead. Its capacity is way too large to fill in one year, said Zachary Frankel, executive director of the Utah Rivers Council. It's a long-planned experiment that might have been halted if water levels in the reservoir had kept dropping. The wider Colorado River source is also drying up, making Lake Mead's situation worse. (L.E. By the end of July 2022, Lake Mead was seeing some of its lowest water levels ever. This stretch of drought has been drier than any other recorded in the U.S. in the past 1,200 years. "The water-supply forecasts look to be above average," Haley Paul, Arizona policy director for the National Audubon Society, previously told Newsweek. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Additionally, if too much rain comes at once, or too much snowpack melts at once due to higher temperatures, it risks running off into the ocean rather than refilling aquifers where we need it. During the recent HFE the release flow from Glen Canyon Dam increased to almost 40,000 cfs. Glen Canyon Dam holds back Colorado River water to create Lake Powell on April 15, 2023 in Lake Page, Ariz. A group of rafters push off from the banks at Lees Ferry for a 25-day rafting trip down the Grand Canyon on January 1, 2023 in Marble Canyon, Arizona. This. The Bureau of Reclamation has already implemented an initiative to help manage these flows. But 2022 was also the first year that the water levels rose since 2019. The Colorado River is approaching a breaking point, its over-tapped reservoirs dropping. Mead Ever Fill Again? There are several policies being put in place to mitigate the low water levels in Lake Mead, including the Drought Contingency Plan, which cuts water deliveries made to Lower Basin states. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. We have had some strong winds and the snowpack has dust on it, and sublimation appears to be in progress; it was quite warm yesterday and today, Weisheit said. "But, remember, because our reservoirsparticularly Powell and Meadare so low from 23-plus years of drought, it would take many years of above-average snow and runoff to refill the reservoirs. What Lake Mead Needs To Get Water Levels Back Up at Drought - Newsweek The Bureau of Reclamation has predicted three possible outcomes for Lake Mead's water levels this summer. 2 arrested in possible road rage incident: police, ZIP codes with highest fireworks complaints for 2023, 7-Eleven clerk shot woman over stolen salad, police, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal). The lake has a surface area of 247.1 square miles and spans the Nevada-Arizona border, providing 25 million people across Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah with water. Climate Point:Feds make moves on water crisis, pollution, DESPERATE WATER CRISIS IDEAS:Drain the Great Lakes, desalinate ocean water. Finally a Judge Stands Up to Biden's Abuse of Power & Suppression of Speech, Trump Judge's Social Media Ruling Is Bonkers, Donald Trump's 4th of July Message Was Very Different From Joe Biden's, Capitol Rioter Has Ominous Warning for Kevin McCarthy, Hidden Pecan Grove Revealed in Lake Travis as Water Level Falls, Mike Pence Warns American Troops May Have to Fight Russia, Joe Biden's Social Media Ban Explained as Judge Restricts White House. Lake Mead Update: Are Water Levels Rising? - Newsweek Shutting down the plant served as a wake-up call on how significant the drought had become.
