Special to the Times | Krista Allen
A view of Castle Rock at Wahweap Bay on Lake Powell shows dry soil conditions. A sobering forecast released by t

Lake Powell near historic lows

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2021-06-11 08:00:11

Special to the Times | Krista Allen A view of Castle Rock at Wahweap Bay on Lake Powell shows dry soil conditions. A sobering forecast released by the Bureau of Reclamation shows Lake Powell dipping near historic low levels.

The water in the man-made Lake Powell reservoir near Western Navajo is approaching historic low levels following 20 years of drought in the Colorado River Basin.

Water levels at Lake Powell, the second-largest reservoir in the country, fell to 3,559.95 feet above sea level on Monday, down from an average of 3,604.09 at this time (May 26) last year, according to the Lake Powell Water Database.

The primary factors influencing Lake Powell – as well as Lake Mead, the largest reservoir in the country – are inflows into Lake Powell, according to the Bureau of Reclamation.

Upper Basin hydrology accounts for about 92% of the total streamflow in the basin. Inflow into Lake Powell is also affected by Upper Basin water use and the operation of reservoirs above Lake Powell.