Water Woes XLIV USBR Takes Action
- Mark L. Johnson
- 9 hours ago
- 2 min read
The United States Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) issued a press release (click link below) on Friday (4/17/26) describing emergency measures to protect Lake Powell water level from declining to dangerously low elevations. The two primary measures are:
Moving 2.48 million acre-feet (maf) of water from the upstream Flaming Gorge Reservoir into Lake Powell
Reducing downstream releases by from Lake Powell from the planned 7.48 maf to 6 maf (1.48 maf reduction) through September 2026
USBR is hoping that these measures will prevent Lake Powell from falling below critical elevation 3,490 feet (minimum pool) and prevent adverse water supply and power generation impacts.
These measures will impact Lake Mead and may reduce power generation at Hoover Dam by 40% but apparently will not impact water supply to the Lower Basin States in the short term.
USBR made this statement regarding the longer term Post 2026 Operation Plans:
"The 2026 operational challenges come at a time of transition as the existing agreements that guided the operations of the Colorado River for the last two decades are set to expire at the end of the year. As we approach the new water year on October
1, the seven basin states have not reached consensus on a new operating framework. With time running out, there is a need for extraordinary collaboration for 2027 and beyond. In the absence of a consensus and following the completion of the NEPA
process, the Interior Department will be prepared to determine operations for Post 2026 later this summer to provide certainty and stability for the Colorado River Basin."