Key facts
- Lake Powell is approaching historic low water levels due to drought, overuse, and climate change.
- Marinas are implementing adaptive measures such as closing or relocating boat ramps and moving to deeper waters.
- The reservoir is currently at 23% capacity and is projected to hit a record low in early September.
- Combined with Lake Mead, the two reservoirs are at their lowest point in nearly 70 years.
- Low water levels are creating navigation hazards and impacting tourism and local revenue for nearby communities.
Lake Powell, the second-largest reservoir in the U.S., is experiencing critically low water levels due to a combination of factors including a record-dry winter, extreme heat, decades of overuse, chronic drought, and climate change. The reservoir is currently at approximately 23% capacity and is projected to reach its all-time record low in early September. This situation, shared with the downstream Lake Mead, marks the lowest combined storage in nearly 70 years.
These dwindling water levels are forcing marinas and recreational facilities around Lake Powell to adapt. Boat ramps have been closed or moved, and new ones are being constructed. Marinas have also been temporarily relocated to deeper sections of the reservoir. The National Park Service has warned visitors about new navigation hazards, including exposed shorelines, submerged obstacles, and narrower channels.
Similar challenges are being faced by other reservoirs in the Western U.S. Elephant Butte State Park in New Mexico, for instance, is at about 2% capacity, leading to the closure of boat ramps and impacting tourism and local revenue. Water managers are under pressure to address the crisis, with current guidelines for the Colorado River's resources set to expire this year and states struggling to reach a long-term agreement.
Experts warn that the reservoirs will continue to deplete until spring snowmelt, with record lows likely to be set daily. The Colorado River system is vital, supplying water to farmers, industries, wildlife, and over 40 million people across seven U.S. states, tribal nations, and Mexico.