The Colorado River has been in a record 27-year drought, and its effects have been felt throughout states and reservoirs. The two largest reservoirs, Lake Mead and Lake Powell, are especially affected, with many groups clamoring for the draining of Powell to fill Mead
Lake Powell resulted from the damming of Glen Canyon in the 1960s. Resistance was met on both sides, as the benefits included new housing developments, cheap hydropower and water specifically for alfalfa and cotton growers.
The opposite side argued that the drowning of Glen Canyon took away a beautiful landmark and that certain sites sacred to Native Americans would be submerged. Some of these advocates continue to argue for the draining of Powell.
Groups such as the Glen Canyon Institute praised what the Glen Canyon Dam has been, but stated that it is now becoming a massive liability in the southwestern drought of the basin states. However, they argue that instead of the dam being removed, they wish to divert the water instead.
With Lake Powell recently reaching a record low of less than 150 feet above the dead pool, a solution that has been gaining attention nationwide is diverting the reservoir to the West’s largest reservoir, Lake Mead.
This plan is called Fill Mead First and focuses on the diversion of Lake Powell waters to Lake Mead. Mead supplies water to major cities across the South Basin states such as Las Vegas, Los Angeles, San Diego, Tucson and Phoenix. The Glen Canyon Dam is predicted to stop producing hydropower as of summer 2027.
“What might it look like if we were to take the water that is currently stored in Lake Powell, send it downstream through the Grand Canyon, and instead store it in Lake Mead?” said Zanna Stutz, the program director of the Glen Canyon Institute. “Then you would get a run-of-river system. So the Colorado River would be free-flowing through what is now Lake Powell. You could keep the dam in place in order to act as emergency water storage if Lake Mead were ever to hit a point where it could completely fill again.”
These reservoirs control water for 40 million people. The draining of Lake Powell can lead to other consequences, such as a mass migration away from Page, Ariz., and other surrounding communities.
Other groups argue, however, that if this water isn’t drained into Lake Mead, the drainage will happen by itself and leave even more without water.
SUU News works hard to ensure the most up-to-date information regarding these ideas and decisions. To find more information on the history of this decision, click here.
Author: Talmage Fairbanks
Photo courtesy of Garrett Pierson, Lake Powell Water Level
Editor: Lainey Porter
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