Unusually wet weather has spread through Utah and Arizona this week. But the rain and snow have done nothing to raise the water level that is currently at a record low in the nation's second largest reservoir.
Lake Powell is an artificial lake spanning the Utah/Arizona border that was created from damming the Colorado River.
The lake is hemmed by the Glen Canyon Dam, which generates hydroelectric power for millions of homes. The lake also provides a source of water for millions of Americans.
However, due to declining water levels, there is growing speculation that the lake could disappear in just decades.
Water levels currently stand at 3,525 feet above average sea level, as per data from Lakes Online, a record low for this time of year. Just five years ago, water levels stood at 3,622 feet above sea level. Even this time last year, water levels were 12 feet higher than they are today.
At 3,490 feet, the reservoir will reach deadpool levels.
This occurs when water levels drop below the dam's intake pipes so water flow can no longer turn the hydroelectric turbines. This stops the dam from generating power, and air entering the system can also damage the dam's generators.
In June 2022, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation issued an emergency request that states relying on the Colorado River basin should reduce their water usage over the next 18 months. This request is still in place.
Lake Powell, like Lake Mead and other major reservoirs in the area, has been severely impacted by the decades-long megadrought that has gripped America's Southwest for the last 22 years.
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