On 17 April, the US Bureau of Reclamation announced emergency action on the Colorado River. Lake Powell, the reservoir behind Glen Canyon Dam, was less than a quarter full and could drop below the level needed to generate power by August.
Inflows to Lake Powell were forecast at just 29% of average, among the lowest on record. Reclamation said it would release 660,000 to 1 million acre-feet from Flaming Gorge Reservoir upstream and cut releases from Powell down to Lake Mead.
This is an unprecedented release volume — more than double the last time
Amy Haas, Executive Director, Colorado River Authority of Utah
Buying time, not solving the problem
The moves are expected to raise Lake Powell by about 54 feet by April 2027. Upstream states agreed reluctantly, and the Central Arizona Project called it “a band-aid”. If next winter is dry too, there may not be enough water left upstream to prop Powell up again.
The states that share the river still had no long-term deal. By September, Lake Powell and Lake Mead had both hit record lows.
What long-term planning changes
- Security: a fair, agreed plan for sharing less water.
- Power: reservoirs kept high enough to keep dams working.
- Nature: water left for the river and its wildlife.
How you can help
Share this story and read our February post on the failed Colorado River talks. It’s a reminder that even the world’s richest countries face water limits.
Source: US Bureau of Reclamation, “Reclamation Acts to Protect Colorado River System During Historic Drought”, 17 April 2026; Coyote Gulch, 20 April 2026; quote from KUNC, 30 April 2026; ScienceDaily, on record lows, 22 September 2026.
