Lake Powell water level drops to record low in Colorado River crisis

Lake Powell, the second-largest reservoir in the United States, has dropped to its lowest level ever recorded. On Saturday, July 15, the water fell to 3,519.91 feet above sea level, just below the previous record set in April 2023. The reservoir now holds only about 22 percent of its total capacity. The water level has fallen more than 20 feet since January. A very low snowpack and an unusually hot March prevented normal spring melting and runoff. Lake Powell sits on the Utah-Arizona border and provides water and electricity to millions of people in the western United States. The dam can no longer produce electricity if the water drops another 30 feet. The seven states that share Colorado River water have not agreed on how to reduce their use.