Overview
- Federal forecasters now expect Lake Powell to receive about 13% of its usual spring inflow, the lowest on record for the reservoir.
- Powell sits at roughly 23% of capacity, and Bureau of Reclamation projections warn power generation at Glen Canyon Dam could halt as soon as September without action.
- Arizona, California and Nevada proposed a short‑term plan to conserve up to 1 million acre‑feet through 2028, part of 3.2 million acre‑feet in broader savings that still require federal and, in some cases, state approvals.
- The Lower Basin proposal outlines sizable reductions from Lake Mead deliveries, with Arizona and Nevada targeting about one‑third less than their entitlements and California about 13% less, with details due by August.
- Federal managers are coordinating extra releases from Flaming Gorge to support Powell, while seven‑state talks remain strained and farmers face tough choices on fallowing fields and shifting crops as supplies tighten.