Lake Powell, one of the most important reservoirs in the western U.S. is about to hit a 'worrying new low', at just 24 per cent of its maximum capacity, authorities warn.
Sitting at the border of Utah and Arizona, Lake Powell is part of a system that supplies water for 40 million people in multiple western states, and through the Glen Canyon Dam, supplies power for more than five million people.
Water level readings from this week, by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, found that the lake was 3,526 feet above seal level, which is 24 per cent capacity.
This puts it just one foot above a crucial threshold set up in drought contingency plans, where additional releases from upstream water sources will need to be released in order to ensure millions still have access to water.
Authorities involved in the reservoir say the lake could dip below that pint, triggering the contingency plans, although its expected to be restored later in the Spring.
This low water level risk comes amid a severe drought in the region and prolonged periods of dry weather, including a very dry summer in 2021.
The Colorado River flows from the Rocky Mountains in Colorado through the southwestern U.S., passing through an elaborate water-management system designed to tame the yearly floods from spring snowmelt and to provide a reliable supply of water for residents as far away as California.
In the past decade it has been hit by prolonged drought conditions, combined with increasing populations and higher levels of water withdrawal.
Last August the federal government declared the first ever water shortage for the areas surrounding and serviced by the Colorado River.
Along with Lake Mead, Powell is the largest reservoir in the country, and crucial to keep water systems on the Colorado River functioning - both are at a record low.
The lake has been hitting a series of new lows since its previous lowest record of 3,555.09 feet last July, but could go below 3,526 in the coming weeks.
While it is unlikely to stay that low, thanks to Spring runoff, it still puts it close to the cutoff level for the Glen Canyon Dam, which needs at least 3,490 ft of water to run.
If it goes off, up to 5.8 million homes and businesses could be without electricity.
The cutoff point, where the power plant could shut down, is 3,525ft of water - designed to leave a buffer for the power to keep running. It is a foot away.
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