Federal Government Plans Major Water Release from Flaming Gorge to Support Lake Powell Amid Drought
The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation intends to release up to 1 million acre-feet of water from Flaming Gorge Reservoir to bolster Lake Powell's declining levels due to severe drought conditions.
The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation has announced plans to release between 660,000 and 1 million acre-feet of water from Flaming Gorge Reservoir, located near the Utah-Wyoming border, over the next year to support Lake Powell's water levels. This decision comes in response to low water levels and a poor snowpack outlook affecting the nation's second-largest reservoir.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum stated that the emergency measure was developed after consultations with representatives from the seven Colorado River Basin states: Utah, Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Wyoming. A final decision is expected within the next week, with releases planned to begin this month and continue through April 2027.
In addition to the Flaming Gorge releases, the Bureau plans to reduce annual releases from Lake Powell to Lake Mead by 1.48 million acre-feet through September, aiming to decrease downstream depletion. These actions are projected to raise Lake Powell's elevation by approximately 54 feet over the next year, maintaining levels necessary for power generation.
Lake Powell is currently at an elevation of 3,526 feet, less than 25% full. The National Weather Service's Colorado Basin River Forecast Center forecasts that the reservoir may receive only 1.4 million acre-feet of water from snowmelt this year, less than a quarter of its normal intake and the third-lowest on record.
Flaming Gorge Reservoir, currently 83% full with 3.1 million acre-feet in storage, is expected to remain at 59% capacity by the end of the planned releases. No releases are planned from Colorado's Blue Mesa and New Mexico's Navajo reservoirs due to poor inflow forecasts.
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area officials have warned boaters of newly exposed shorelines and other navigational hazards resulting from lower water levels at Lake Powell. Boaters are advised to exercise caution, especially in unfamiliar areas and near busy boat ramps.