NewsWSVN 7 News MiamiAugust 17, 2026Miami-Dade
Lake Powell water levels reach record low, threatening regional power and water supply
Lake Powell has dropped to a record low elevation of 3,519.91 feet, placing the reservoir within 30 feet of the threshold where hydroelectric power generation would cease. This decline, alongside record lows at Lake Mead, threatens water and electricity access for 40 million people across seven states.
Read the full story at WSVN 7 News MiamiWhy It Matters
The depletion of Lake Powell threatens the stability of hydroelectric power generation and water supplies for 40 million residents in seven Western states, with federal officials considering major water cuts to prevent further infrastructure failure.
Key Facts
- Lake Powell reached a record low elevation of 3,519.91 feet on Saturday.
- The reservoir is currently 30 feet away from the level where turbines stop producing hydroelectric power.
- Lake Powell is more than 20 feet lower than it was at the start of the year.
- The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation proposed a 10-year plan in July involving potential water cuts for Arizona, California, and Nevada.
- The Colorado River Basin provides resources for 40 million people across seven states.
- Combined storage levels for Lake Powell and Lake Mead are at their lowest in nearly seven decades.
- The previous record low for Lake Powell was set in April 2023.
- The last time combined storage was this low was May 1957, during the construction of the Glen Canyon Dam.
- Lake Powell began filling in 1963.
- Low water levels have forced the relocation of marinas and the closure of boat ramps.