The water level in Lake Powell is falling – there is no long-term improvement in sight.Image: keystone
Extreme weather
July 14, 2026, 12:41 p.mJuly 14, 2026, 12:41 p.m
Lake Powell, the second largest reservoir in the United States, is approaching critically low water levels. data of US Bureau of Reclamation state that the water level on Monday was 3,524 feet (around 1,074 meters) above sea level.
If the lake dries out further, hydroelectric power can no longer be generated. At a minimum water level of 3,490 feet (around 1,064 meters), it is so low that the water turbines can no longer be driven. Peter Soeth, director of public relations at the Bureau of Reclamation, explains ABC News.
The falling water level has another consequence: Lake Powell is an important water reservoir for millions of people as well as for agriculture and industry in the western United States. If the reservoir reaches the so-called “dead state”, the water could no longer flow past the Glen Canyon Dam, reports ABC News. This would worsen the supply of Colorado River water – affecting millions of people in the states of Arizona, California and Nevada, among others.
The water level in Lake Powell is currently around ten meters above the minimum water level and only around 1.2 meters above its previous record low. The reason for the water shortage is the very low snowfall in the Colorado River basin this year. The ongoing drought is making the situation worse.
Short-term relief is not a long-term solution
At least short-term relief could soon come. According to the Climate Prediction Center of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, above-average precipitation is expected in large parts of the West, writes ABC News.
However, this does not solve the problem. According to experts, long-term factors such as persistent droughts and low snowfall cannot compensate for the short-term additional rainfall. Lake Powell could hit a new low as early as August.
According to ABC News, the affected states have submitted a proposal for how water should be distributed if there is a shortage. So far, there is no common solution that all states have agreed on. If no agreement is reached, the responsible federal agency, the Bureau of Reclamation, would have to decide how the water will be distributed.
The authority emphasizes to the broadcaster that it is doing everything it can to prevent the water level in Lake Powell from falling to critical levels. An updated forecast on water levels is expected to be published later this week. (hkl)