Lake Powell Hits Record Low, Near Hydropower Cutoff For Southwest
Lake Powell fell to a record low elevation of 3,519.91 feet on Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026, pushing the reservoir toward the level that would cut hydropower for millions in the Southwest.[1]
The reservoir sits more than 20 feet lower than it was at the start of 2026 and about 30 feet above the level that would halt Glen Canyon Dam's turbines.[1] Combined storage in Lakes Powell and Mead is now at its lowest since May 1957, when Glen Canyon Dam was under construction.[1]
In April federal officials warned a "major intervention" would be necessary to avoid losing hydropower by year's end.[1] In July the Bureau of Reclamation proposed a 10-year plan that could force major cuts for Arizona, California and Nevada.[1]
The record low followed Lake Mead hitting a historic low about a week earlier, deepening strain on the Colorado River system that supplies more than 40 million people across seven states.[1]
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📌 Key Facts
- On Saturday, August 15, 2026, Lake Powell’s elevation fell to 3,519.91 feet above sea level, a new record low.
- The reservoir is now more than 20 feet lower than at the start of 2026 and roughly 30 feet above the level at which Glen Canyon Dam’s turbines would stop generating hydropower.
- The record low comes about a week after Lake Mead also reached a historic low, affecting a river system that supplies more than 40 million people in seven U.S. states.
- In April 2026, federal officials warned a 'major intervention' would be necessary to avoid losing hydropower by year’s end, and in July the Bureau of Reclamation proposed a 10-year plan with major potential cuts for Arizona, California and Nevada.
- Combined storage in Lakes Powell and Mead is now at its lowest since May 1957, when Glen Canyon Dam was under construction.
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