There are several policies being put in place to mitigate the low water levels in Lake Mead, including the Drought Contingency Plan, which cuts water deliveries made to Lower Basin states. And were still using way more water than the Colorado River reliably produces. However, due to a combination of prolonged drought over the last two decades, increasing aridification from climate change, and a set of historical laws that has promoted overuse of Colorado River water in the Lower Basin, both reservoirs are at their lowest levels since being constructed.". Officials are focused on the wrong problem, advocates say. Everyone Practices Cancel Culture | Opinion, Deplatforming Free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion. Discovery Company. Falling lake levels could make it tricky to launch your boat at Lake Mead this summer/NPS file. Its a point we want to avoid (that is, if we can). But this year did not bring much-needed precipitation to the river basin. The latest report from the US Bureau of Reclamation shows Lake Mead at just over 1,040 feet above sea level in July, having dropped nearly 10 feet in just two months, and is currently at just. The megadrought that has gripped large areas of the western states has caused the lake to get drier and drier every year: In July 2022, Lake Mead reached its lowest water level since it was constructed in the 1930s at 1,040.8 feet. . Today the water uses allowed by law are more than the river gets in an average year, so until the rules are changed it is unlikely the reservoirs will fill.". The latest forecast would suggest that California, Arizona, Nevada and Mexico would see even more significant cuts to their Colorado River water starting in January, and without a couple of blockbuster winters with lots of rain and snow more severe cuts the following year that would stretch into household and industrial use. Since the beginning of December, the reservoir's water levels have steadily increased. Projected water levels are provided typically on the 15th of each month by the. But the recent projections show it will take a lot more than rainfall to change the dire outlook for the lake. How Lake Mead has dried up between July 6, 2000 and July 3, 2022, massive rainfall across the western states, projections from the Bureau of Reclamation, Everyone Practices Cancel Culture | Opinion, Deplatforming Free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion. This is due to recent heavy rainfall and winter storms that swept across Nevada and the neighboring states. 25 Feb/23. Water levels in Lake Mead reached the lowest they have ever been last July, at 1,040.8 feet. The investigation is continuing, the park said in a statement. All Rights Reserved. The worst drought conditions were noted in the San Joaquin Valley and surrounding mountains in California, where the snow cover is virtually non-existent below 8,000 feet, the monitor reported, which has caused the peak snow-melt water to occur weeks ahead of normal. Wintertime snowpack stores precious water that later melts and drains into reservoirs in the spring. She also pointed to two other factors that are pushing Lake Mead well below its forecast. "Lake Mead's water levels have been declining since 2000," Jennifer Pitt, director of the Audubon Colorado River Program, previously told Newsweek. The legal framework is really complicated, but it's urgent to change it right now before the risk increases and there's no water for everyone and everything dependent on water from Lake Meadfarms, birds, major cities, really all life in the Southwest.". But even though the water levels have risen, this isn't likely to help the lake in the long term. The reduction of releases from Lake Powell from 7.48 maf to 7.00 maf in water year 2022 will result in a reduced release volume of 0.480 maf that normally would have been released from Glen Canyon Dam to Lake Mead as part of the 7.48 maf annual release volume, consistent with routine operations under the 2007 Interim Guidelines. The monthly, two-year forecast from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation has once again been revised down, with lake levels hitting a new potential low of 1,007 feet of elevation in November 2023.. It stands today at its lowest level since Franklin Delano Roosevelt was president. The Bureau of Reclamation's most recent projections show Lake Mead dropping to 1,033.4 feet in elevation by the end of 2023, about 14 feet lower than the reservoir's current level. The ongoing drought in the western United States has been one of the driest stretches seen in the U.S. in the past. It is formed by the Hoover Dam, which was first constructed between 1931 and 1936. Lake Mead is on the border of Nevada and Arizona. Jennifer Pitt, the Colorado River program director with the National Audubon Society, an environmental organization, previously told Newsweek: "To refill the Colorado River reservoirs, you would need three average years of snowfall without any water use. South Coves launch ramp is closed, but primitive launching is still available approximately 0.5 mile to the south of the concrete launch ramp. Yosemite's fire management service said 545 firefighters were battling the blaze, including "proactively protecting" the grove -- the largest sequoia grove in Yosemite, with over 500 mature trees. shaka wear graphic tees is candy digital publicly traded ellen lawson wife of ted lawson wind forecast lake mead. That . Updated appreciated. To help RVers explore these lands and destinations, the National Parks Traveler editors and writers have sifted through the National Park System and come away with the definitive RVing guide to the parks. Launch ramps at Temple Bar and Boulder Harbor will remain closed. Projected water levels are provided typically on the 15th of each month by theBOR.Water level status projections from the BORs March 2022 Most Probable Inflow 24-Month Study: The NPS and interagency partners are collaborating to plan for longer term operational conditions as water levels in Lake Mead continue to fluctuate. The region is already in an unprecedented Tier 1 shortage on the Colorado River, which led to mandatory water cuts that mainly impacted agriculture. Lake Mead, seen here on Sunday, is running well below the federal government's predicted water level. California and Nevada have had extremely heavy rainfall in recent days, during one of the severest droughts the region has ever seen. Whatever buffer we may have had (or thought we had) at Lake Mead, it is quickly disappearing. Without those emergency steps, the government estimated there was about a 25% chance the Glen Canyon Dam, which generates power for as many as 5.8 million homes and businesses across seven states, would have stopped producing energy by the end of this year. - Hundreds of firefighters scrambled Monday to prevent a wildfire engulfing an area of rare giant sequoia trees in California's Yosemite National Park. Projection for end of April 2022 is 1,057.14 feet. Sunken boat from second world war and at least three sets of human remains found in largest US reservoir and more could follow. Thats 18 feet past the deepest level of shortage for which weve plannedand 13 feet below its last major defense point before the lake completely tanks. At 1,050 feet, a Tier 2 shortage is declared, further decreasing the amount of water Arizona, Nevada and Mexico can use from the Colorado River. Everyone Practices Cancel Culture | Opinion, Deplatforming Free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion. As of December 1, the water levels stood at 1,042.97 feet. Recent rainfall and an increase in the snowpack on the Colorado Rocky mountains has made more water available for reservoirs like Lake Mead and its neighbor Lake Powell. This could be down to some incredibly heavy rainfall sweeping the region, which may help offset the effects of the drought. Dropping water levels at Lake Mead have caused its shorelines to recede, exposing boats, barrels and bodies. Updated Horizontal gray lines represent important elevations for operations. The forecast is . more information on current conditions Callville Bay launch ramp is open on one lane of pipe mat and will likely close in April 2022 or when the lake level drops below 1,062 feet elevation. The good news is that leaving extra water in Powellcould buy us about a year, or maybe more if were lucky. Because once the lakes hit these dangerously low levels, its unlikely that they will ever recover. If you love this content (or love to hate it hey, I won't judge),why not subscribe to get more? Stock image of Lake Mead in 2021. A file photo of Lake Mead. Which lets just call it now is highly unlikely. Managing for both short-term emergencies and long-term sustainability makes this situation particularly difficult.". NV "This groundwater is absolutely crucial to supplying streams in [California's] long, dry summers every year, not just during drought," Rempe said. The Colorado River irrigates farms, powers electric grids and provides drinking water for 40 million people. CNN The water level in Lake Mead the nation's largest reservoir dropped below 1,050 feet elevation for the first time last week, a critical milestone that signals more stringent. ), they also limit the amount of groundwater that is stored within the landscape," Daniella Rempe, a hydrologist and geomorphologist at the Jackson School of Geosciences, University of Texas in Austin, previously told Newsweek. Select the date (a new window will open): January 2012 April 2012 August 2012 January 2013 April 2013 August 2013 January 2014 April 2014 August 2014 January 2015 April 2015 August 2015 January 2016 April 2016 August 2016 January 2017 April 2017 August 2017 January 2018 April 2018 August 2018 January 2019 June 2019 August 2019 February 2020 April 2020 August 2020 January 2021 April 2021 June 2021 August 2021 January 2022 February 2022 May 2022. Lake levels are expressed as altitudes the number of feet the lake's surface is above sea level not as depths. The Colorado River reservoirwhich has been rapidly drying up due to the ongoing megadrought gripping Nevada and neighboring statescould reach lows of 1,024.47 feet by November, a study released by the Bureau on January 19 said. Previous tables (starting in January 2012) are also available. That means less water is now flowing downstream into Lake Mead. "There's been a good start to the snowfall season, but it is way too early to know what runoff will look like," she said. The state saw a particularly wet monsoon season at the end of July and into August, meaning the river filled slightly. Drought conditions in the Southwest worsened significantly over the past week, the US Drought Monitor reported Thursday. In August, Reclamation will make two model runs: One that, as the May 24-month study does, projects lake levels as they are, and one that projects lake levels as if that extra water were in Mead. Projected water levels are provided typically on the 15th of each month by the BOR. The agricultural demands downstream have actually been higher this year because it was a warmer and drier spring than normal, Aaron said. But the rest of the lower basin is going to have to throw it in high gear, if were going to hit our target this year. The Washburn fire, in the Mariposa Grove of giant sequoias, was first reported on July 7 and doubled in size over the weekend to 2,340 acres (946 hectares), according to a park report. Now, keep in mind: That 1,007-foot prediction is in whats called the minimum probable forecast, not the comparably rosiermost probable forecast that Reclamation typically uses to declare shortages and take other official actions. 601 Nevada Way As it continues, weather patterns are becoming harder to predict, meaning people are using the water faster than it can be replenished. If that forecast holds in next months report, which is what federal officials will use to determine cuts for 2023, the Southwest will be subject to a Tier 2 water shortage and the fresh cuts that come with it starting in January. Recording and transmission times may be more frequent during critical events. Its still far below the surface, but as the water levels fall light is reaching the plane for the first time in decades, 8NewsNow reported. "A few big winter storms aren't going to fix the Colorado River Basin's crisis. Its far below what the outlooks were predicting as of last year. Specifically, Reclamation modeled operations as follows: The Glen Canyon Dam annual release is initially set to 7.00 maf, and in April of the given year Reclamation will evaluate hydrologic conditions to determine if balancing releases may be appropriate under the conditions established in the 2007 Interim Guidelines; Balancing releases will be limited (with a minimum of 7.00 maf) to protect Lake Powell from declining below elevation 3,525 feet at the end of December; and, Balancing releases will take into account operational neutrality of the 0.480 maf that was retained in Lake Powell under the. The lake may eventually reach dead pool, which is at 895 feet, when the water would no longer flow past the dam. 2023 Cable News Network. The latest forecast from the US Bureau of Reclamation shows the reservoir plummeting from its current elevation of around 1049 feet above sea level to around 1037 feet by this September. Its inevitable, said Michael Green, an associate professor of history at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Federal officials have a sobering forecast for the Colorado River Basin: Lake Mead, the nations largest reservoir which serves millions of people in the Southwest, will likely drop another 12 feet by this fall. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE. Colorado River System Projections Overview, probabilistic results for the 2-year period, 2022 Glen Canyon Dam operational adjustment, Equalization Tier (Powell >= Equalization [EQ] Elevation), Upper Elevation Balancing Tier (Powell < EQ Elevation and >= 3,575 ft), Upper Elevation Balancing - annual release > 8.23 maf, Upper Elevation Balancing - annual release = 8.23 maf, Upper Elevation Balancing - annual release < 8.23 maf, Mid-Elevation Release Tier (Powell < 3,575 and >= 3,525 ft), Mid-Elevation Release - annual release = 8.23 maf, Mid-Elevation Release - annual release = 7.48 maf, Lower Elevation Balancing Tier (Powell < 3,525 ft), Lower Elevation Balancing - annual release > 8.23 maf, Lower Elevation Balancing - annual release < 8.23 maf, Surplus Condition - any amount (Mead >= 1,145 ft), Normal Year or ICS Surplus Condition (Mead < 1,145 and > 1,075 ft), Recovery of DCP ICS / Mexicos Water Savings (Mead >/>= 1,110 ft), DCP Contribution / Mexicos Water Savings (Mead <= 1,090 and > 1,075 ft), Shortage Condition - any amount (Mead <= 1,075 ft), Shortage / Reduction - 1st Level (Mead <= 1,075 and >= 1,050 ft), DCP Contribution / Mexicos Water Savings (Mead <= 1,075 and >= 1,050 ft), Shortage / Reduction - 2nd Level (Mead < 1,050 and >= 1,025 ft), DCP Contribution / Mexicos Water Savings (Mead < 1,050 and > 1,045 ft), DCP Contribution / Mexicos Water Savings (Mead <= 1,045 and > 1,040 ft), DCP Contribution / Mexicos Water Savings (Mead <= 1,040 and > 1,035 ft), DCP Contribution / Mexicos Water Savings (Mead <= 1,035 and > 1,030 ft), DCP Contribution / Mexicos Water Savings (Mead <= 1,030 and >=/> 1,025 ft), Shortage / Reduction - 3rd Level (Mead < 1,025 ft), DCP Contribution / Mexicos Water Savings (Mead