The Colorado River Basin is experiencing the combined unprecedented conditions of prolonged drought, low runoff conditions, and depleted storage in the Basin’s largest reservoirs – Lake Powell and Lake Mead. Best available science indicates that these conditions will continue to adversely impact the Basin.
The US Department of the Interior (DOI), Bureau of Reclamation, the Upper Division States, and the Upper Colorado River Commission (UCRC) are working closely with the Lower Division States, Tribes, other federal and state agencies, and NGOs to complete a 2022 Drought Response Operations Plan (2022 Plan), as part of the 2019 Colorado River
Drought Contingency Plan Authorization Act.
On April 8, pursuant to authorities under Sections 6 and 7.D of the 2007 Interim Guidelines, the DOI communicated the Secretary of the Interior’s proposal to the Colorado River Basin States to reduce the annual release volume from Lake Powell to Lake Mead from 7.48 million acre-feet (maf) to 7.0 maf – a 6.5% reduction in the annual release volume for the water year.
This potential action would be taken in conjunction with any potential 2022 Plan releases. Combined, these cooperative actions work to delay or avoid the operational conditions that would result from Lake Powell dropping below key elevations, including 3,490 feet.
The 2022 Plan releases will be in addition to the 161,000 acre-feet provided from Upper Basin reservoirs in 2021. The 2022 Plan will be finalized in May.
Without implementing these robust actions, Lake Powell elevations are projected to drop below key infrastructure levels later this year. These include elevations at which Glen Canyon Dam releases could only be accomplished through the river outlet works.
DOI has proposed additional actions to protect and address dam operations, facility reliability, hydropower operations, and public health and safety concerns.
In response to the proposal, Colorado River Commissioner Becky Mitchell issued the following statement:
“Colorado understands the unprecedented challenges facing the Colorado River Basin and will work collaboratively to protect critical infrastructure at Lake Powell. While we support the Assistant Secretary’s proposal, we also acknowledge that this is a temporary solution and that it is incumbent on all who rely on the Colorado River to develop longer-term solutions that address the imbalance between supply and demand in the Basin.”