Overview
- Federal forecasters now expect April–July inflows to Lake Powell at about 13% of average, the lowest spring–summer runoff since the reservoir filled in 1963.
- A warm, dry winter and a March heatwave melted sparse mountain snow early, leaving far less water to reach the Colorado River.
- The Bureau of Reclamation has begun reducing releases from Lake Powell to keep Glen Canyon Dam generating hydropower.
- States approved a federal plan last month to move water from Flaming Gorge to bolster Lake Powell, with 660,000 to 1 million acre-feet slated to help shore up levels.
- Nevada, Arizona and California have offered larger combined cuts as seven-state talks continue under the possibility of federal intervention.