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Latest Projection: Lake Powell Could Reach Critically Low Water Level By July

(CBS4) -- The latest river flow and reservoir storage projections from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation suggest Lake Powell's surface level could fall to the "power pool" mark and risk damaging the Glen Canyon Dam's power-generating turbines as early as July of next year.

"As a result of this update, the median water year 2022 inflow forecast into Lake Powell decreased by 800,000 acre-feet," USBR stated in a press release distributed Thursday. 

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The Glen Canyon Dam, near the town of Page, Arizona is pictured on August 25, 2020. - Glen Canyon Dam is a 710-foot (220 m) high dam forms Lake Powell, one of the largest man-made reservoirs in the U.S. (Photo by Daniel SLIM / AFP) (Photo by DANIEL SLIM/AFP via Getty Images)

Lake Powell is the key element of the Colorado River Storage Project. It contributes significantly to the water supply and electrical power grid in the southwestern U.S.

It depends on water sources in Colorado and neighboring states.

But Lake Powell's current water level is the lowest since it was first filled almost 60 years ago.

Lake Powell Forecast (pic)
Lake Powell (credit: U.S. Bureau of Reclamation)

The power pool mark is 3,490 feet of elevation. Saturday, the reservoir measured 3,545 feet. That is 29 percent of its what is considered full capacity.

"We have had to make difficult choices this year, and we will all have to make more difficult decisions if it continues to remain dry next year to protect Lake Mead and Lake Powell," said Reclamation's Lower Colorado Basin Regional Director Jacklynn Gould.

To make matters worse, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released on Thursday its 2021 U.S. Winter Outlook. It forecast continued drought conditions in the southwestern U.S. due to the La Nina weather phenomenon.

"This winter season," NOAA's press release stated, "has odds favoring warmer and drier than normal conditions for southeast Utah and western Colorado."

UPDATE: Weather Experts Concerned About Impact Of Colorado's 'Very Rare' Dry Winter

Authorities countered low Powell levels three months ago with a plan to increase downstream releases from three reservoirs in the Upper Colorado River Basin - Blue Mesa Reservoir in central Colorado, Flaming Gorge Reservoir at the Utah-Wyoming border, and Navajo Reservoir at the Colorado-New Mexico border.

Navajo Lake 1 (in late September, credit Will Mahoney)
Navajo Lake as seen in late September. (credit: Will Mahoney)
Navajo Lake 2 (in late September, credit Will Mahoney)
Navajo Lake as seen in late September. (credit: Will Mahoney)

Releases at Blue Mesa were scheduled to conclude at the end of this month.

Lake Powell Forecast (scheduled releases from stored water to make up for critical Powell levels, from US Bureau of Reclamation)
Releases (kaf) measured in thousands of acre-feet. (credit: U.S. Bureau of Reclamation)

The National Park Service stated that Blue Mesa Reservoir was 26 percent full on Thursday. It is only three feet above its record low level reached in 1984.

Elk Creek Boat Ramp Closes October 24, 2021 The Elk Creek boat ramp closes for the season at 4:30 pm on Sunday,...

Posted by Curecanti National Recreation Area on Thursday, October 21, 2021

The 181,000 acre-feet provided by the three reservoirs was expected to raise Lake Powell's surface by three feet.

Iola Basin transformation. #gunnison #montrose #bluemesa #curecanti

Posted by Curecanti National Recreation Area on Friday, October 22, 2021

USBR is currently running models on the impacts of additional compensatory water releases from upstream storage sources. The Colorado Basin's storage level is currently at 88 percent of capacity. However, the USBR forecasts it will be at 36 percent at this time next year.

However, southwestern Colorado's snowpack is off to a good start this winter. Deeper snowpack in Colorado is an important first step toward higher river flows that are capable of refilling reservoirs.

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