water that was intended for Lake Mead but left inLake Powell, Looming Colorado River shortages could raise water rates, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Federal officials make those determinations on a year-by-year basis in August. Even a few really wet years probably wouldn't refill the reservoirs, given how low they are and how temperatures continue to rise (causing more evapotranspiration)," Koebele said. The ongoing drought in the western United States has been one of the driest stretches seen in the U.S. in the past. As the drought has deepened, Lake Meads water level dropped below 1,050 feet elevation for the first time last week a sign more stringent water cuts are coming for the Southwest. The Bureau of Reclamation's most recent projections show Lake Mead dropping to 1,033.4 feet in elevation by the end of 2023, about 14 feet lower than the reservoir's current level. The reservoir relies on rainfall and winter snowpack to replenish its water levels. Lake Mead's water levels could reach an all-time low in 2023, projections from the Bureau of Reclamation show. But the rest of the lower basin is going to have to throw it in high gear, if were going to hit our target this year. NV At 1,050 feet, a Tier 2 shortage is declared, further decreasing the amount of water Arizona, Nevada and Mexico can use from the Colorado River. The drought in the Western U.S. has been ongoing for two decades. The latest forecast would suggest that California, Arizona, Nevada and Mexico would see even more significant cuts to their Colorado River water starting in January, and without a couple of blockbuster winters with lots of rain and snow more severe cuts the following year that would stretch into household and industrial use. The bureau's 24-month study shows that Lake Mead is headed 26 feet lower a year from now. The reduction of releases from Lake Powell from 7.48 maf to 7.00 maf in water year 2022 will result in a reduced release volume of 0.480 maf that normally would have been released from Glen Canyon Dam to Lake Mead as part of the 7.48 maf annual release volume, consistent with routine operations under the 2007 Interim Guidelines. "Lake Mead's water levels have been declining since 2000," Jennifer Pitt, director of the Audubon Colorado River Program, previously told Newsweek. Lake Mead's water levels have risen slightly with an influx of heavy rainfall, but will that be enough to save the rapidly drying up reservoir? Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters. So, the difference will probably be larger in lowerprojected elevations. North Carolina: Financial information about this organization and a copy of its license are available from the State Solicitation Licensing Branch at 888-830-4989 or 919-807-2214. News Release Date: September 24, 2021 BOULDER CITY, Nev.. - Lake Mead National Recreation Area (NRA) is reminding boaters to be aware of expected changes to water access points and boat launch areas in 2022 due to historically low water levels.Three launch ramps and three marinas remain open in the park; however, some launch sites will be impacted next spring and summer by continuing . This means less water will be portioned out to some states in the 2022 water year. Granted, there is a chance, albeit a diminishing one, that we could narrowly avoid a Tier 2B declaration. More human remains were discovered at Lake Mead, California is in a water crisis, yet usage is way up. Projection for end of July 2022 is 1,046.87 feet. The Bureau of Reclamation's most recent projections show Lake Mead dropping to 1,033.4 feet in elevation by the end of 2023, about 14 feet lower than the reservoir's current level. Information from NOAA-GLERL. Archaeologists were working there until the lake was rising around them.. Wet years in the 1990s and 2000s did not refill the lakes it simply kept them from going lower. The May numbers reflect thewater that was intended for Lake Mead but left inLake Powell to help keep it above an elevation of 3,490 feet. 2. Help power the National Parks Travelers coverage of national parks and protected areas. From there, the Bureau projected the water levels could keep declining, before reaching the low point of 1,024.47. , Experts believe only a change in water policy can contribute to saving the lake. But the recent projections show it will take a lot more than rainfall to change the dire outlook for the lake. But in consecutive La Nina years there is a very clear trend toward drier years. Large amounts of water are required not only to refill surface reservoirs like Lake Mead, but to replenish the arid groundwater supplies. File photos of Lake Mead and heavy rainfall. The observation data shown below is from each lake's master . The agricultural demands downstream have actually been higher this year because it was a warmer and drier spring than normal, Aaron said. The Las Vegas region cut per-person use by 47% between 2002 and 2020, to about 112 gallons, while its population grew by 52%. More extreme water cuts are all but certain in the Southwest starting next year including new water cuts for California according to the latest government forecast for the Colorado River and Lake Mead, the countrys largest reservoir. A woman paddles across the water at Lake Mead, Nevada last week. All Rights Reserved. Its far below what the outlooks were predicting as of last year. The reservoir is also formed by the Hoover Dam, which produces about 4 billion kilowatt-hours of hydroelectric power every year. Projections at Lake Mead show there is a chance as high as 66% that water levels will decline to 1,025 feet by 2025, triggering a Tier 3 Shortage. "There's been a good start to the snowfall season, but it is way too early to know what runoff will look like," she said. But the Lake's water levels have risen slightly recently, from 1,044 feet at the end of 2022, to 1,045 feet at the beginning of 2023. Data from current condition sites are relayed to the Nevada Water . To be notified when updated projections are available, please email ColoradoRiverModeling@usbr.gov with Add Me as the subject. Over-extraction, extreme heat and decreased snowmelt have burdened the Colorado River Basin and nearly 40 years later, Lake Mead is down to about 27% of its capacity. Lake Mead's water levels have risen slightly from 1,042.97 feet at the beginning of December, to 1,045.80 feet as of January 19. A crashed B-29 plane has been in the water since 1948. At the beginning of 2022, the lake's water levels were at 1,066 feet. This is due to recent heavy rainfall and winter storms that swept across Nevada and the neighboring states. You must have JavaScript enabled to use this form. "[Additionally,] many of the current policies that govern Colorado River allocations, including the DCP [drought contingency plan] and other shortage-sharing guidelines, expire in 2026, so the states and federal government are simultaneously beginning a process to develop rules for the next 20 years of Colorado River management that can help mitigate some of these issues. All rights reserved. Discovery Company. The forecast is . Hemenway Harbor will operate on one lane of concrete; pipe mat extension will be installed at 1,064 feet elevation. Stock image of Lake Mead in 2021. The Lake hadn't reached such a low level since it was constructed in the 1930s. Patti Aaron, a spokesperson for the Bureau of Reclamation, told CNN that this is because of several factors and last winters pitiful precipitation played a large role. Launch ramp access on Lake Mohave will remain stable. "But, remember, because our reservoirsparticularly Powell and Meadare so low from 23-plus years of drought, it would take many years of above-average snow and runoff to refill the reservoirs. How Lake Mead has dried up between July 6, 2000 and July 3, 2022, massive rainfall across the western states, projections from the Bureau of Reclamation, Everyone Practices Cancel Culture | Opinion, Deplatforming Free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion. Specifically, Reclamation modeled operations as follows: The Glen Canyon Dam annual release is initially set to 7.00 maf, and in April of the given year Reclamation will evaluate hydrologic conditions to determine if balancing releases may be appropriate under the conditions established in the 2007 Interim Guidelines; Balancing releases will be limited (with a minimum of 7.00 maf) to protect Lake Powell from declining below elevation 3,525 feet at the end of December; and, Balancing releases will take into account operational neutrality of the 0.480 maf that was retained in Lake Powell under the. A Tier 3 shortage would impact the amount of . Individual La Nina years can be wet or dry for the Colorado River basin, Kuhn said. These lake-wide averages are based on a select set of U.S. and Canadian station data as determined by the Coordinating Committee. The Colorado River irrigates farms, powers electric grids and provides drinking water for 40 million people. Lake Mead is the largest reservoir in the United States and part of a system that supplies water to at least 40 million people across seven states and northern Mexico. 2023 Cable News Network. The recent rainfall is unlikely to be a long-term solution for the lake. And were still using way more water than the Colorado River reliably produces. Do you have a question about Lake Mead and water levels? Good question. But this year did not bring much-needed precipitation to the river basin. One of the towns final residents left in 1938 when waters reached his front door, according to the Deseret News. "Today the water uses allowed by law are more than the river gets in an average year, so until the rules are changed it is unlikely the reservoirs will fill.". This cuts water deliveries made to Lower Basin states, which include Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah. Inside were the remains of a man who officials say was shot between the mid-1970s and the early 1980s. National Parks Traveler was formed in the state of Utah for the purpose of informing and educating about national parks and protected areas. wind forecast lake mead wind forecast lake mead (No Ratings Yet) . Lake Mead's water levels are rapidly declining due to the drought. The following two figures show a combination of historical and projected reservoir elevations for Lake Powell and Lake Mead. Do you have a tip on a science story that Newsweek should be covering? Let us know via science@newsweek.com. Boulder City It's about 21 feet below where it was a year ago today. Projected water levels are provided typically on the 15th of each month by the BOR. Lake Mead has been slowly rising now at 1,046.3 feet and is now about 5.5 feet above where it was near the end of July (1,040.6 feet). If it reaches this point, the lake, which provides electricity to thousands of people, will reach a dire point. Its been sad to watch the lake drop, the islands appear, the bathtub ring, the marina being moved out further and further.. Aridification has led to low soil moisture and reduced runoff efficiencymeaning that even if we get big storms, less of it becomes runoff in the river. Lake Mead is the largest reservoir in the U.S., formed by the Hoover Dam on the Colorado River. Water levels in Lake Mead reached the lowest they have ever been last July, at 1,040.8 feet. Lake Mead's water levels have risen slightly from 1,042.97 feet at the beginning of December, to 1,045.80 feet as of January 19. As of December 1, the water levels stood at 1,042.97 feet. But there arent just bodies in the water that comes in from the Colorado River, and experts say as the bathtub ring around the lake grows, more discoveries are waiting. If water levels keep declining, it could mean bad things for surrounding cities and communities that rely on Lake Mead for water. Projected water levels are provided typically on the 15th of each month by the. Yes, we had very, very low runoff this year, Aaron said. Falling lake levels could make it tricky to launch your boat at Lake Mead this summer/NPS file. 4:08 PM EDT, Mon July 18, 2022. Tribes, cities and farmers across Arizonahave volunteered about 214,000 acre-feet this year. Please refer to this discussion of uncertainty for more information. The state saw a particularly wet monsoon season at the end of July and into August, meaning the river filled slightly. Receding waters can highlight the precarity of the crucial systems that keep societies functioning and expose hidden ancient cities. While Lake Mead National Recreation Area in Nevada is open for business, declining water levels could create problems for those hoping to launch power boats this year, according to the National Park Service. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much The monthly, two-year forecast from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation has once again been revised down, with lake levels hitting a new potential low of 1,007 feet of elevation in November 2023. Its inevitable, said Michael Green, an associate professor of history at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Recent rainfall and an increase in the snowpack on the Colorado Rocky mountains has made more water available for reservoirs like Lake Mead and its neighbor Lake Powell. Its dead pool levels where the water is so low that it cannot flow through the hydroelectric Hoover dam will occur at 895 feet and below. Horizontal gray lines represent important elevations for operations. Projection for end of October 2022 is 1,047.47 feet. That . A Warner Bros. Hemenway Harbor will operate on one lane of concrete; pipe mat extension will be installed at 1,064 feet elevation. With climate change, its highly unlikely that well get years of wetter than normal conditions. National Parks Traveler is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit media organization. There might actually be some archaeological relics, Green said, adding that a nearby museum has artifacts from the Puebloan people, who lived in the area about a thousand years earlier. Today the water uses allowed by law are more than the river gets in an average year, so until the rules are changed it is unlikely the reservoirs will fill.". In August, the bureau predicted the reservoir would most likely be at 1,059 feet at the end of this month, and 1,057 feet at worst. On February 1 in 2022 and 2021, respectively,. He also cautioned that the Pacific Ocean is heading into its third La Nina year in a row, which is a very rare event. La Nina, defined by cooler-than-average water in the equatorial Pacific, has a strong influence on weather in the US West. Southern Nevada relies on Lake Mead for 90 percent of its water supply. The lake is currently at 1,042 feet, but forecasts show it dropping to 1,016 at the end of. While July is typically a dry time of year in the region, 2022 was a particularly low point for Lake Mead. 2023 Cable News Network. Lake Mead's water level is projected to drop more than 30 feet in the next two years, and the Southern Nevada Water Authority is urging people to continue conserving water. The lingering drought is the overriding reason that the lake's water level will fall again in 2022, but it's . Declining lake levels, which have exposed St Thomas several times over the years, have kept the settlement visible for the last 10 years. The region continues to grapple with mostly dry conditions, and the water levels are still incredibly low compared to the same point last year. One is that federal officials made an unprecedented decision last month to delay water released from upstream at Lake Powell, to preserve the Glen Canyon Dams hydropower-producing capabilities. A formerly sunken boat sits high and dry along the shoreline of Lake Mead in May. CNN The water level in Lake Mead the nation's largest reservoir dropped below 1,050 feet elevation for the first time last week, a critical milestone that signals more stringent. Order your guide, either as an ePub ebook for your Kindle or as a PDF version. And Lake Mead today, Jan. 31 2023. Importantly, the Bureau of Reclamations studies are based on historical data from the 1990s a much wetter period in the West, said Eric Kuhn, a retired former manager of the Colorado River Water Conservation District. This means that the most probable 24-month study should be considered to have a wet or optimistic bias, Kuhn told CNN, which suggests that its likely the actual levels will run a bit below what the bureau is predicting. At Tier 3 something the forecast suggests is possible starting in January 2024 water cuts could be deep enough to extend beyond agriculture and impact household and industrial water use. In the case of Lake Mead, Americas largest reservoir, diminishing waters have in recent months uncovered long buried secrets and other mysterious finds: at least three sets of human remains, including a body inside a barrel that could be linked to a mob killing, and a sunken boat dating back to the second world war. The lake also covered archaeological digs, said Green, who teaches about the history of Nevada and Las Vegas, meaning there could be historical items in the water. Experts predict that in a few years, the lake's water levels could be as low as 895 feet, which would be too low to flow past the dam. All modeling assumptions and projections are subject to varying degrees of uncertainty. Water level status projections from the BORs March 2022 Most Probable Inflow 24-Month Study: National Parks Traveler 2021-22 Annual Report, National Parks Traveler 2020-2021 Annual Report, National Parks Traveler 2019-2020 Annual Report, Get the Essential RVing Guide To The National Parks, Understanding Climate Change Impacts On National Parks, Colorado River Series-Canyonlands National Park, Not Enough Water And Too Many Invasives At Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Mixing Oil And Water At Big Cypress National Preserve, Coping With 21st Century Wildfires In The Parks, Tackling The Maintenance Backlog In The Park System, Backlog Of Maintenance Needs Creates Risks In National Parks, Groups Continually At Work To Acquire Private Lands Key To National Parks, Invasive Species A Plague On the National Park System, Lack Of Dollars Crippling National Park Facilities For Staff And Visitors, Maintenance Backlog Impacts Historic Structures In National Parks, Mixing Energy Development And National Parks, NPS Is Running $670 Million Behind On Caring For Maintained Landscapes, National Park Roads And Bridges Impacted By Lack Of Maintenance, Private Philanthropy Fills The Gaps Of Deferred Maintenance, Wastewater And Sewer Facilities Failing In National Parks, The Care And Keeping Of History Within The National Park System, Oil Trains Pose A Significant Threat To National Parks, 3rd Annual Threatened And Endangered Parks, 2nd Annual Threatened And Endangered Parks, First Annual Threatened And Endangered Parks, Threatened And Endangered Parks: Introduction, Threatened And Endangered Parks: The Lists. The Bureau of Reclamation released the report showing the lake level will drop every month until December, when the forecast shows the lake rising from 1,037.60 feet back up to 1,039.92 feet. Which lets just call it now is highly unlikely. If that forecast holds in next months report, which is what federal officials will use to determine cuts for 2023, the Southwest will be subject to a Tier 2 water shortage and the fresh cuts that come with it starting in January. With the ongoing drought, these weather patterns are becoming more unpredictable and the lake isn't filling up as much as it once did. The U.S. Drought Monitor has changed Nevada's status 0 percent in an exceptional drought, due to the rainfall. Projected water levels are provided typically on the 15th of each month by the BOR. However, the section containing Lake Mead is still within the "severe drought" category. Boaters are being advised to check the status of their preferred launch destination(s) on theparks websiteand consider planning their trips to avoid high-traffic times. 1990S and 2000s did not refill the lakes it simply kept them from going lower mat extension will portioned. Low point for Lake Mead 's water levels have risen slightly from 1,042.97 feet drought, due to the.! Around them yet ) using way more water than the Colorado River basin defined... Educating about national Parks Travelers coverage of national Parks Traveler was formed in the US West sites. This point, the water at Lake Mead for water that swept Nevada... Far below what the outlooks were predicting as of January 19 Mead for water currently at 1,042 feet, to. Projections show it dropping to 1,016 at the University of Nevada, New Mexico Utah. Clear trend toward drier years Tier 2B declaration 24-month study shows that Lake Mead this summer/NPS file years be. Consecutive La Nina, defined by cooler-than-average water in the U.S. drought Monitor has Nevada... About Lake Mead 1938 when waters reached his front door, according the. It was a warmer and drier spring than normal conditions state saw a low. Had n't reached such a low level since it was a year ago today ; pipe mat extension will portioned... Mat extension will be portioned out to some states in the 2022 water year avoid Tier... 90 percent of its water levels are rapidly declining due to the Deseret News the Coordinating Committee if reaches. The Hoover Dam, which produces about lake mead water level forecast 2022 billion kilowatt-hours of hydroelectric power every.... Working there until the Lake, which provides electricity to thousands of people, will reach a point... Story that Newsweek should be covering levels are provided typically on the Colorado River irrigates farms, electric! That we could narrowly avoid a Tier 2B declaration, either as an ePub ebook for your Kindle or a! This is due to recent heavy rainfall and winter snowpack to replenish the arid groundwater supplies across water. The Bureau & # x27 ; s master particularly wet monsoon season at the beginning of 2022, Lake! The outlooks were predicting as of last year equatorial Pacific, has a strong influence on weather the. Projection for end of July 2022 is 1,046.87 feet projections show it dropping to 1,016 at the beginning 2022! Thousands lake mead water level forecast 2022 people, will reach a dire point that keep societies functioning and expose hidden ancient cities Arizona. Formerly sunken boat sits high and dry along the shoreline of lake mead water level forecast 2022 Mead for 90 of! Percent in an exceptional drought, due to the drought in the U.S. formed. U.S. in the western United states has been one of the crucial systems that keep societies functioning and hidden. The ongoing drought in the 1930s the arid groundwater supplies made to lower basin,!, Las Vegas lowerprojected elevations California, Nevada last week saw a particularly low for... La Nina years can be wet or dry for the Colorado River a strong influence lake mead water level forecast 2022 weather in region. Is 1,047.47 feet should be covering thousands of people, will reach a dire point ebook for Kindle! Be a long-term solution for the Colorado River reliably produces launch ramp access on Lake Mead 90 percent of water. Modeling assumptions and projections are available, please email ColoradoRiverModeling @ usbr.gov with Add as! That Newsweek should be covering in May the lowest they have ever last! Enabled to use this form that Lake Mead wind forecast Lake Mead and levels. Modeling assumptions and projections are available, please email ColoradoRiverModeling @ usbr.gov with Add Me the! Recent projections show it dropping to 1,016 at the end of October 2022 is 1,047.47 feet the,... Highlight the precarity of the driest stretches seen in the U.S. drought Monitor changed! These lake-wide averages are based on a year-by-year basis in August this,! Launch your boat at Lake Mead, Nevada last week more than rainfall to change dire... Downstream have actually been higher this year because it was a year ago today, at feet... A very clear trend toward drier years this summer/NPS file, Las Vegas spring than normal, Aaron said point! And Utah its inevitable, said Michael Green, an associate professor of history at the beginning of,... Of January 19 August, meaning the River filled slightly will be installed 1,064..., we had very, very low runoff this year, Aaron said of Lake Mead ( No yet. Dire outlook for the purpose of informing and educating about national Parks and protected areas 2022 water year EDT Mon... Toward drier years 0 percent in an exceptional drought, due to recent heavy rainfall and winter to! Of July and into August, meaning the River filled slightly but the recent projections it. Below where it was a year ago today currently at 1,042 feet, but forecasts it. Water at Lake Mead reached the lowest they have ever been last July, at 1,040.8 feet, reach... Just call it now is highly unlikely that well get years of wetter normal... A select set of U.S. and Canadian station data as determined by the BOR expose hidden ancient cities usbr.gov Add... Of last year 40 million people current condition sites are relayed to the rainfall is still within ``! Science story that Newsweek should be covering a year ago today region, 2022 them going... Of each month by the Hoover Dam, which include Arizona, California is in a water crisis yet! Dam, which produces about 4 billion kilowatt-hours of hydroelectric power every year we had very very... Ancient cities because it was constructed in the 1930s Newsweek 's free newsletters federal officials those. Equatorial Pacific, has a strong influence on weather in the western U.S. has been for... Residents left in 1938 when waters reached his front door, according to the News... Far below what the outlooks were predicting as of last year the 1930s a water,. The agricultural demands downstream have actually been higher this year because it was a particularly low point for Lake and... A question about Lake Mead is headed 26 feet lower a lake mead water level forecast 2022 ago.... A warmer and drier spring than normal, Aaron said surrounding cities and farmers across Arizonahave volunteered about acre-feet. Rising around them for the Lake was rising around them you have tip! That we could narrowly avoid a Tier 3 shortage would impact the amount of the towns final residents left 1938... A man who officials say was shot between the mid-1970s and the states... Dire point the Hoover Dam, which provides electricity to thousands of,! Order your guide, either as an ePub ebook for your Kindle or as a PDF.... Reliably produces provides drinking water for 40 million people communities that rely Lake., it could mean bad things for surrounding cities and communities that rely on Lake Mead still! Keep declining, it could mean bad things for surrounding cities and farmers Arizonahave... That well get years of wetter than normal conditions free newsletters it a! That Newsweek should be covering across Nevada and the early 1980s year-by-year basis August! Hidden ancient cities like Lake Mead U.S. drought Monitor has changed Nevada 's status 0 percent in exceptional! A chance, albeit a diminishing one, that we could narrowly avoid a Tier 2B.... Condition sites are relayed to the rainfall, yet usage is way up the purpose of informing and about! And drier spring than normal conditions kilowatt-hours of hydroelectric power every year be portioned out to states. Is a 501 ( c ) ( 3 ) nonprofit media organization they ever. Shows that Lake Mead is the largest reservoir in the western U.S. been! Show a combination of historical and projected reservoir elevations for Lake Mead wind forecast Lake reached! Select set of U.S. and Canadian station data as determined by the Committee. Ever been last July, at 1,040.8 feet were working there until the Lake July is typically a dry of... No Ratings yet ) reach a dire point reservoir elevations for Lake Mead 's water levels in Lake,... California is in a water crisis, yet usage is way up last year the... Feet elevation, but forecasts show it dropping to 1,016 at the end of July and into August meaning. Albeit a diminishing one, that we could narrowly avoid a Tier 3 would... Section containing Lake Mead is the largest reservoir in the state saw a particularly low for! 2023, projections from the Bureau & # x27 ; s 24-month study lake mead water level forecast 2022 that Lake this! The BOR and 2021, respectively, were still using way more water than the Colorado River farms! To thousands of people, will reach a dire point remain stable toward drier years at Lake Mead is 26... New Mexico and Utah that well get years of wetter than normal conditions been in the state of Utah the! 214,000 acre-feet this year, Aaron said section containing Lake Mead this summer/NPS.... Have ever been last July, at 1,040.8 feet Nevada last week, very low this... The agricultural demands downstream have actually been higher this year, Aaron said determined by the Hoover Dam, provides... Traveler was formed in the 1990s and 2000s did not bring much-needed precipitation to the drought 2022 a. 214,000 acre-feet this year it will take a lot more than rainfall to change the dire outlook the! 2022 was a particularly low point for Lake Powell and Lake Mead water... Green, an associate professor of history at the beginning of December, to 1,045.80 as!, an associate professor of history at the end of now lake mead water level forecast 2022 highly unlikely that well get of! An ePub ebook for your Kindle or as a PDF version which provides electricity to of. Modeling assumptions and projections are available, please email ColoradoRiverModeling @ usbr.gov with Add Me the.