Southwest Floods Boost Lake Powell 20 Feet, Ease Local Shortages
Floods from a series of late October and early November storms have pushed Lake Powell up more than 20 feet and eased local water shortages in parts of Colorado and Arizona, offering rare relief amid the Southwest's long drought.[1]
Since hitting a low point in mid-September, Powell has gained more than 1.2 million acre-feet of water, but remains just over one-quarter full and most boat ramps are still unusable, underscoring how depleted the huge reservoir remains. Around Pagosa Springs in southern Colorado, about 7 inches of rain allowed local officials to lift water restrictions, while Upper Lake Mary near Flagstaff, Arizona, added more than 3 billion gallons, giving that city more than two years of typical surface water supply. In central Arizona, the Salt River Project released water from two almost-full Verde River dams into a stretch that is normally dry near metro Phoenix to reduce flood risk downstream.[1]
The recent inflows followed intense storms that turned normally small or dry creeks across the region into torrents, triggering evacuations and cutting off access to some communities even as they refilled critical reservoirs.[1] Scientists say El Niño conditions in the Pacific Ocean helped supercharge the moisture flowing into the Southwest and expect those influences to linger for several more months, potentially shaping how much additional water the Colorado River system and smaller local reservoirs can bank this winter. Overall drought conditions, however, still dominate much of the region despite the short-term boost in storage.[1]
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📌 Key Facts
- Storms in late October and early November 2026 sent floodwaters through normally small or dry creeks, causing evacuations and access disruptions but delivering significant inflows to Southwestern reservoirs.
- Since its mid-September 2026 low, Lake Powell has risen more than 20 feet, adding over 1.2 million acre-feet of water yet remaining just over 25% full with most boat launches still unusable.
- Around Pagosa Springs, Colorado, about 7 inches of rain allowed officials to lift water restrictions, while Northern Arizona’s Upper Lake Mary gained more than 3 billion gallons, giving Flagstaff over two years of typical surface water supply.
- In central Arizona, high flows into the Verde River led Salt River Project to release water from two nearly full dams into a normally dry stretch near metro Phoenix for flood management.
- Scientists attribute the heavy rains in part to El Niño, noting its effects are expected to last several more months and could further affect Western water storage, though overall drought conditions persist.
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