Water Woes XXXIX-Double Trouble
- Mark L. Johnson
- Jun 24
- 1 min read
The Arizona Reconsultation Committee (ARC) met on June 17, 2025 and the following information related to the Colorado River Water Supply was gleaned from the meeting presentation materials.
Colorado River System Status (6/16/25)
Reservoir Level Projections-Lake Powell & Lake Mead
Potential Hydroelectric Generation Issues
TA reported in Water Woes XXVII-Ebbs & Flows (4/14/24) that the hydroelectric turbines at Glen Canyon Dam (Lake Powell) will most likely experience cavitation damage when the reservoir levels reach elevation 3,490' (Minimum Power Pool). The Worst Case Water Supply Scenario (dotted red line shown in the Lake Powell End-of-Month Elevations chart above) predicts that potentially happening in December 2026!
United States Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) also predicts that the hydroelectric turbines at Hoover Dam (Lake Mead) will most likely experience cavitation damage when the reservoir levels reach elevation 1,035'. The Worst Case Water Supply Scenario (dotted red line shown in the Lake Mead End-of-Month Elevations chart above) predicts that potentially happening in April 2027!
So the Colorado River Water Supply sitation is potentially double trouble---lack of water supply and reduced or no hydroelectric power generation. Hydroelectric power generated at Glen Canyon Dam serves about 5 million people in 6 western states including Arizona. Nineteen percent (19%) of the power generated at Hoover dam goes to Arizona. If hydroelectric power is curtailed or taken out of service at these two facilities, the power will be have to be replaced with alternative power sources at a much greater cost.
Solutions?
In the next issue of Water Woes, we will provide an update on the Post 2026 Operational Strategies for the Colorado River System.