Lake Mead's water levels could reach an all-time low in 2023, projections from the Bureau of Reclamation show. Registration does not imply endorsement. If the forecast indicates Lake Mead's water level will be below 1,050 feet come January 1, the Southwest will move into the second tier of unprecedented water cuts that will deepen the. The projection for the end of July this year is 1,046 feet. Colorado River System Projections Overview, probabilistic results for the 2-year period, 2022 Glen Canyon Dam operational adjustment, Equalization Tier (Powell >= Equalization [EQ] Elevation), Upper Elevation Balancing Tier (Powell < EQ Elevation and >= 3,575 ft), Upper Elevation Balancing - annual release > 8.23 maf, Upper Elevation Balancing - annual release = 8.23 maf, Upper Elevation Balancing - annual release < 8.23 maf, Mid-Elevation Release Tier (Powell < 3,575 and >= 3,525 ft), Mid-Elevation Release - annual release = 8.23 maf, Mid-Elevation Release - annual release = 7.48 maf, Lower Elevation Balancing Tier (Powell < 3,525 ft), Lower Elevation Balancing - annual release > 8.23 maf, Lower Elevation Balancing - annual release < 8.23 maf, Surplus Condition - any amount (Mead >= 1,145 ft), Normal Year or ICS Surplus Condition (Mead < 1,145 and > 1,075 ft), Recovery of DCP ICS / Mexicos Water Savings (Mead >/>= 1,110 ft), DCP Contribution / Mexicos Water Savings (Mead <= 1,090 and > 1,075 ft), Shortage Condition - any amount (Mead <= 1,075 ft), Shortage / Reduction - 1st Level (Mead <= 1,075 and >= 1,050 ft), DCP Contribution / Mexicos Water Savings (Mead <= 1,075 and >= 1,050 ft), Shortage / Reduction - 2nd Level (Mead < 1,050 and >= 1,025 ft), DCP Contribution / Mexicos Water Savings (Mead < 1,050 and > 1,045 ft), DCP Contribution / Mexicos Water Savings (Mead <= 1,045 and > 1,040 ft), DCP Contribution / Mexicos Water Savings (Mead <= 1,040 and > 1,035 ft), DCP Contribution / Mexicos Water Savings (Mead <= 1,035 and > 1,030 ft), DCP Contribution / Mexicos Water Savings (Mead <= 1,030 and >=/> 1,025 ft), Shortage / Reduction - 3rd Level (Mead < 1,025 ft), DCP Contribution / Mexicos Water Savings (Mead <= 1,025 ft). Its been sad to watch the lake drop, the islands appear, the bathtub ring, the marina being moved out further and further.. CRMMS Ensemble Mode is driven by an ensemble of monthly unregulated streamflow forecasts developed by the National Weather Service Colorado Basin River Forecasting Center (CBRFC) using the Ensemble Streamflow Prediction (ESP) method. "Today the water uses allowed by law are more than the river gets in an average year, so until the rules are changed it is unlikely the reservoirs will fill.". The disruption in society will beunprecedented. After three months of rising levels, Lake Mead is then projected to drop for seven consecutive months, when it will be at 1,023.71 feet. Box 980452, Park City, Utah 84098. A forecast from the Bureau of Reclamation released on August 31 show the two and five year projections at the lake. Receding waters can highlight the precarity of the crucial systems that keep societies functioning and expose hidden ancient cities. It is now at its lowest level since the lake was being filled in 1937. Pitt told Newsweek that we would need three average years of snowfall without any water use to fully replenish Lake Mead and Lake Powell. ", "There's been a good start to the snowfall season, but it is way too early to know what runoff will look like. Our commitment to understanding the impacts of climate change on park resources, infrastructure, operations, and visitor experiences is central to ensuring the safe, responsible and long-term use and enjoyment of all Lake Mead has to offer. Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters. So, the difference will probably be larger in lowerprojected elevations. Projected water levels are provided typically on the 15th of each month by the BOR. The lake is currently at 1,042 feet, but forecasts show it dropping to 1,016 at the end of. The 2022 Drought Response Operations Plan includes an additional release of 500 kaf from Flaming Gorge from May 2022 through April 2023. Data from current condition sites are relayed to the Nevada Water . The Bureau of Reclamation's most recent projections show Lake Mead dropping to 1,033.4 feet in elevation by the end of 2023, about 14 feet lower than the reservoir's current level. The reduction of releases from Lake Powell from 7.48 maf to 7.00 maf in WY 2022 resulted in a reduced release volume of 0.480 maf that normally would have been released from Glen Canyon Dam to Lake Mead as part of the 7.48 maf annual release volume, consistent with routine operations under the 2007 Interim Guidelines. ELEVATION PROJECTIONS. There might actually be some archaeological relics, Green said, adding that a nearby museum has artifacts from the Puebloan people, who lived in the area about a thousand years earlier. Managing for both short-term emergencies and long-term sustainability makes this situation particularly difficult.". The lake is now at 28 percent its usual capacity, while during the . The water line dropped below of the reservoirs original water intake valves for the first time in April. Lake Mead is currently operating under a federally declared water shortage and its allocation of water for 2022 has been cut by 21,000 acre feet to 279,000 acre feet . The Colorado River reservoirwhich has been rapidly drying up due to the ongoing megadrought gripping Nevada and neighboring statescould reach lows of 1,024.47 feet by November, a study released by the Bureau on January 19 said. While in October, 0 percent of Arizona was considered free of any drought category, as of January 24, 42.37 percent of the state is drought-free. CH 51659), MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING 800-435-7352 OR VISITING THEIR WEBSITE WWW.FRESHFROMFLORIDA.COM. The bureau's 24-month study shows that Lake Mead is headed 26 feet lower a year from now. "It has gotten warmer and drier, and the rules haven't changed fast enough to stop the decline. Dropping water levels at Lake Mead have caused its shorelines to recede, exposing boats, barrels and bodies. In July 2022, Lake Mead dropped to the lowest point it has ever been and was only 27 percent of its usual capacity. Please refer to this discussion of uncertainty for more information. 4:08 PM EDT, Mon July 18, 2022. The current water elevation forecast for the end of March is 1,063 feet. The reservoir relies on rainfall and winter snowpack to replenish its water levels. Granted, there is a chance, albeit a diminishing one, that we could narrowly avoid a Tier 2B declaration. Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters. The U.S. Drought Monitor shows that between October last year and January 24, 2023, the percentage of Nevada suffering from Extreme Drought decreased from 44.61 to 18.53, with the rest of the state experiencing Moderate Drought and Severe Drought. Do you have a question about Lake Mead and water levels? Projections at Lake Mead show there is a chance as high as 66% that water levels will decline to 1,025 feet by 2025, triggering a Tier 3 Shortage. Callville Bay launch ramp is open on one lane of pipe mat and will likely close in April 2022 or when the lake level drops below 1,062 feet elevation. The license is not an endorsement by the State. You must have JavaScript enabled to use this form. "Long periods of low rainfall not only dry up the moisture supply for plants (risking fires and large-scale tree mortality events, etc. 2023 www.azcentral.com. Lake Mead's water levels, despite having increased in the wake of massive rainfall across the western states, are still much lower than they were this time last year. The reservoir is also formed by the Hoover Dam, which produces about 4 billion kilowatt-hours of hydroelectric power every year. This means that the most probable 24-month study should be considered to have a wet or optimistic bias, Kuhn told CNN, which suggests that its likely the actual levels will run a bit below what the bureau is predicting. The sudden rainfall which has swept the region has even changed Nevada's drought status, which usually remains pretty static. Launch ramps at Temple Bar and Boulder Harbor will remain closed. The lake has a surface area of 247.1 square miles and spans the Nevada-Arizona border, providing 25 million people across Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah with water. The reservoirwhich stretches across Nevada and Arizona, on the Colorado Riveris relied upon by 25 million people living in the region. At the beginning of 2022, the lake's water levels were at 1,066 feet. The May numbers reflect thewater that was intended for Lake Mead but left inLake Powell to help keep it above an elevation of 3,490 feet. Help power the National Parks Travelers coverage of national parks and protected areas. The monthly, two-year forecast from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation has once again been revised down, with lake levels hitting a new potential low of 1,007 feet of elevation in November 2023. Projected water levels are provided typically on the 15th of each month by theBOR.Water level status projections from the BORs March 2022 Most Probable Inflow 24-Month Study: The NPS and interagency partners are collaborating to plan for longer term operational conditions as water levels in Lake Mead continue to fluctuate. The Washburn fire, in the Mariposa Grove of giant sequoias, was first reported on July 7 and doubled in size over the weekend to 2,340 acres (946 hectares), according to a park report. At 1,050 feet, a Tier 2 shortage is declared, further decreasing the amount of water Arizona, Nevada and Mexico can use from the Colorado River. This cuts water deliveries made to Lower Basin states, which include Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah. Federal officials make those determinations on a year-by-year basis in August. Without those emergency steps, the government estimated there was about a 25% chance the Glen Canyon Dam, which generates power for as many as 5.8 million homes and businesses across seven states, would have stopped producing energy by the end of this year. 2023 Cable News Network. Discovery Company. These projections rely on future hydrology from the CBRFCs ESP method and may not be representative of the full range of future possibilities that could occur; other hydrology methods may result in a wider range of future hydrology and elevations. The most recent 5-year projections of future Colorado River system conditions were produced using the following assumptions: Additional details are available in CRMMS Ensemble Mode page. A Warner Bros. Aridification has led to low soil moisture and reduced runoff efficiencymeaning that even if we get big storms, less of it becomes runoff in the river. 2023 Cable News Network. These lake-wide averages are based on a select set of U.S. and Canadian station data as determined by the Coordinating Committee. Part of the agreement to leave water in Lake Powell was that when it came time to declare a shortage, that water would be counted as if it were in Lake Mead. To be notified when updated projections are available, please email ColoradoRiverModeling@usbr.gov with Add Me as the subject. Even a few really wet years probably wouldn't refill the reservoirs, given how low they are and how temperatures continue to rise (causing more evapotranspiration)," Koebele said. "[Additionally,] many of the current policies that govern Colorado River allocations, including the DCP [drought contingency plan] and other shortage-sharing guidelines, expire in 2026, so the states and federal government are simultaneously beginning a process to develop rules for the next 20 years of Colorado River management that can help mitigate some of these issues. Do you have a question about Lake Mead? But even that rosier prediction is8 feet lower than last month, thanks in part to another meh runoff season and recent, unprecedented actions that were taken to keep the upstream Lake Powell on life support. The lake may eventually reach dead pool, which is at 895 feet, when the water would no longer flow past the dam. The lake's water levels have risen slightly. Recording and transmission times may be more frequent during critical events. The good news is that leaving extra water in Powellcould buy us about a year, or maybe more if were lucky. In August, Reclamation will make two model runs: One that, as the May 24-month study does, projects lake levels as they are, and one that projects lake levels as if that extra water were in Mead. The lake's water levels have risen since December, but are forecast to reach an all-time low later in the year. While Lake Mead National Recreation Area in Nevada is open for business, declining water levels could create problems for those hoping to launch power boats this year, according to the National Park Service. The region continues to grapple with mostly dry conditions, and the water levels are still incredibly low compared to the same point last year. The state saw a particularly wet monsoon season at the end of July and into August, meaning the river filled slightly. Reach Allhands at joanna.allhands@arizonarepublic.com. As it continues, weather patterns are becoming harder to predict, meaning people are using the water faster than it can be replenished. Launch ramps at Temple Bar and Boulder Harbor will remain closed. Let us know via science@newsweek.com. 25 Feb/23. Although Lake Mead's water levels reached an all time low in 2022, it was also the year that saw the water levels rise slightly for the first time in three years. But the recent projections show it will take a lot more than rainfall to change the dire outlook for the lake. Lake Powell and Lake Mead operations are modeled as if the 0.480 maf had been delivered to Lake Mead for Lake Powell operating tier and condition determination purposes for the U.S. Lower Basin and for Mexico. That . This means less water will be portioned out to some states in the 2022 water year. During this time, areas saw more than a half inch of rain in just 10 minutes, the Las Vegas Review Journal reported at the time. North Carolina: Financial information about this organization and a copy of its license are available from the State Solicitation Licensing Branch at 888-830-4989 or 919-807-2214. This is due to recent heavy rainfall and winter storms that swept across Nevada and the neighboring states. Hot records are outpacing cool by more than 10-to-1 this year as Europe, US brace for dangerous heat. With climate change, its highly unlikely that well get years of wetter than normal conditions. It made national headlines in 2022 as its water level hit the lowest it had ever been due to the ongoing . Specifically, Reclamation modeled operations as follows: The Glen Canyon Dam annual release is initially set to 7.00 maf, and in April of the given year Reclamation will evaluate hydrologic conditions to determine if balancing releases may be appropriate under the conditions established in the 2007 Interim Guidelines; Balancing releases will be limited (with a minimum of 7.00 maf) to protect Lake Powell from declining below elevation 3,525 feet at the end of December; and, Balancing releases will take into account operational neutrality of the 0.480 maf that was retained in Lake Powell under the. To help RVers explore these lands and destinations, the National Parks Traveler editors and writers have sifted through the National Park System and come away with the definitive RVing guide to the parks. Results from CRMMS run with ESP are referred to as CRMMS-ESP. Yes, we had very, very low runoff this year, Aaron said. The lake is now at 28 percent its usual capacity, while during the summer it was only at 27 percent. 2. Five-Year Probabilistic Projections of future conditions in the Colorado River system currently extend through 2026. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much Last year, Nevada had a status of being 8 percent in an exceptional drought. Launch ramp access on Lake Mohave will remain stable. "Two, many of the current policies that govern Colorado River allocations, including the DCP and other shortage-sharing guidelines, expire in 2026, so the states and federal government are simultaneously beginning a process to develop rules for the next 20 years of Colorado River management that can help mitigate some of these issues. Forecast; Maps; Severe Weather; Hurricanes; . Notably, exceptional drought the worst designation expanded in California from nearly zero coverage to 11% of the state. The Lake hadn't reached such a low level since it was constructed in the 1930s. The latest forecast would suggest that California, Arizona, Nevada and Mexico would see even more significant cuts to their Colorado River water starting in January, and without a couple of blockbuster winters with lots of rain and snow more severe cuts the following year that would stretch into household and industrial use. Projection for end of April 2022 is 1,057.14 feet. 2:44 PM EDT, Thu May 26, 2022. The lake is predicted to reach an even lower level in the coming months: projections from the Bureau of Reclamation show that Lake Mead could drop as low as 1,024.47 feet by November 2023. The investigation is continuing, the park said in a statement. Lake Mead's water levels are rapidly declining due to the drought. Recent rainfall and an increase in the snowpack on the Colorado Rocky mountains has made more water available for reservoirs like Lake Mead and its neighbor Lake Powell. That . Projections of Lake Powell (top) and Lake Mead (bottom) end-of-month physical reservoir elevations. Now officials seek to slash that use to 86 gallons by 2035, a task the . However, boaters should expect higher congestion at these locations. All Rights Reserved. And Lake Mead today, Jan. 31 2023. She also pointed to two other factors that are pushing Lake Mead well below its forecast. Do you have a tip on a science story that Newsweek should be covering? Its water levels are rapidly declining, edging closer and closer to deadpool level. Reclamation only includes about half because thats all the agreements that have been signed. Whatever buffer we may have had (or thought we had) at Lake Mead, it is quickly disappearing. "But, remember, because our reservoirsparticularly Powell and Meadare so low from 23-plus years of drought, it would take many years of above-average snow and runoff to refill the reservoirs. Horizontal gray lines represent important elevations for operations. Elizabeth Koebele, an associate professor of political science at the University of Nevada, Reno, told Newsweek: "This is a Colorado River problem what I call a "system problem" and we'd be remiss to think of it otherwise. Projected water levels are provided typically on the 15th of each month by the BOR. Officials are focused on the wrong problem, advocates say. They are typically updated every January, April, and August, while probabilistic results for the 2-year period are updated every month. The ongoing drought in the western United States has been one of the driest stretches seen in the U.S. in the past 1,200 years. "But what happens during drought is that the rains that would refill this groundwater end up just refilling the dry root zone and either delaying or preventing recharging of the groundwater system that supplies streams and reservoirs.". Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters. Since the beginning of December, the reservoir's water levels have steadily increased. However the state is still 24 percent in an extreme drought and 78 percent in a severe drought. As of December 1, the water levels stood at 1,042.97 feet. Water levels in Lake Mead reached the lowest they have ever been last July, at 1,040.8 feet. More extreme water cuts are all but certain in the Southwest starting next year including new water cuts for California according to the latest government forecast for the Colorado River and Lake Mead, the countrys largest reservoir. The Las Vegas region cut per-person use by 47% between 2002 and 2020, to about 112 gallons, while its population grew by 52%. The current water elevation for end of March is 1,063.11 feet. Lake Mead, seen here on Sunday, is running well below the federal government's predicted water level. There is some opportunity for the Colorado River to pick up more inflow between Lake Powell and Lake Mead, from springs and small creeks in the Grand Canyon but drought and climate change have been reducing these flows, as well. More critically, the bureau predicts the reservoir will be at nearly the same level, around 1,041 feet, come January. The latter will be used to determine which level of shortage were in. According to BORs March 2022 24-month forecast, water levels at Lake Mead will drop earlier-than-expected. On December 1, 2022, the lake's water levels were 1,042.97 feet above sea level, while as of February 1, 2023, they measured 1,046.99 feet. One, at the end of January 2023, the Basin States are expected to submit a new plan to the federal government, who is undertaking a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) process under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), for reducing water use by 2-4 million acre feet," Koebele said. "A few big winter storms aren't going to fix the Colorado River Basin's crisis. In July 2022, the lake reached a historic low of 1,040 feet above sea level. I would say there is a very good chance as the water level drops that we are going to find additional human remains, Ray Spencer, a lieutenant with the Las Vegas police, said in May. Do you have a tip on a science story that Newsweek should be covering? Sunken boat from second world war and at least three sets of human remains found in largest US reservoir and more could follow. Lake Mead has been slowly rising now at 1,046.3 feet and is now about 5.5 feet above where it was near the end of July (1,040.6 feet). The NPS recognizes the important role that launch ramps and marinas play in the economies of gateway communities and the numerous businesses that operate in the parks, and robust civic and stakeholder engagement will be a part of longer-term planning. Sun 31 Jul 2022 05.00 EDT Last modified on Sun 31 . Archaeologists were working there until the lake was rising around them.. The May forecast only projects hitting 3,489 feet once, in March 2024, and thats only in the minimum probable forecast. The drought in the Western U.S. has been ongoing for two decades. At the beginning of 2022, the lake's water levels were at 1,066 feet. If that forecast holds in next months report, which is what federal officials will use to determine cuts for 2023, the Southwest will be subject to a Tier 2 water shortage and the fresh cuts that come with it starting in January. more information on current conditions Callville Bay launch ramp is open on one lane of pipe mat and will likely close in April 2022 or when the lake level drops below 1,062 feet elevation. "Lake Mead's water levels have been . The forecast is . More human remains were discovered at Lake Mead, unprecedented strategy to boost water levels, California is in a water crisis, yet usage is way up. Falling lake levels could make it tricky to launch your boat at Lake Mead this summer/NPS file. ), they also limit the amount of groundwater that is stored within the landscape," Daniella Rempe, a hydrologist and geomorphologist at the Jackson School of Geosciences, University of Texas in Austin, previously told Newsweek. So their demands have been higher.. How much variance will that be? A woman paddles across the water at Lake Mead, Nevada last week. Lake Mead is the largest reservoir in the U.S., formed by the Hoover Dam on the Colorado River. A file photo of Lake Mead. And were still using way more water than the Colorado River reliably produces. Do you have a tip on a science story that Newsweek should be covering? This could be down to some incredibly heavy rainfall sweeping the region, which may help offset the effects of the drought. "At the end of January 2023, the Basin States are expected to submit a new plan to the federal government, who is undertaking a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) process under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), for reducing water use by 2-4 million acre feet," Elizabeth Koebele, an associate professor of political science at the University of Nevada, Reno, previously told Newsweek. This summer a sunken second world war-era boat began to jut out from the water. The bureaus next consequential report comes in August, at which point it will determine whether more cuts are needed. #ColoradoRiver #drought pic.twitter.com/g2F9lCXbfw. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. 601 Nevada Way So, the rain has undoubtedly been a welcome water source for the lake. Managing for both short-term emergencies and long-term sustainability makes this situation particularly difficult.". If water levels keep declining, it could mean bad things for surrounding cities and communities that rely on Lake Mead for water. The Bureau of Reclamation released the report showing the lake level will drop every month until December, when the forecast shows the lake rising from 1,037.60 feet back up to 1,039.92 feet. Projection for end of April 2022 is 1,057.14 feet. As the drought has deepened, Lake Meads water level dropped below 1,050 feet elevation for the first time last week a sign more stringent water cuts are coming for the Southwest. . Great Lakes Water Level Observations. Its inevitable, said Michael Green, an associate professor of history at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. The colored region, or cloud, for the scenario represents the minimum and maximum of the projected reservoir elevations. The lake, a reservoir of the Colorado River, formed by the Hoover Dam, provides water to 25 million people in California, Nevada and Arizona, but it has been facing the effects of an ongoing megadrought. Solid lines represent historical elevations (black), and median projected elevations for the scenario (yellow). Stock image of Lake Mead in 2021. Highest congestion at launch ramps typically occurs on weekends, so weekday visits are encouraged when possible to enjoy the lake with fewer crowds. Although these are only estimates, the lake has been in a dire state for years, meaning it is likely that water levels will drop further than they already have in the coming year. The monthly, two-year forecast from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation has once again been revised down, with lake levels hitting a new potential low of 1,007 feet of elevation in November 2023.. Because the 2022 operations were designed to protect critical elevations at Lake Powell, Reclamation will implement Lower Elevation Balancing Tier operations in a way that continues to protect these critical elevations, or preserves the benefits of the 2022 operations to protect Lake Powell, in water year 2023 and 2024. Firefighters put out hot spots from the Washburn Fire in Yosemite National Park, California, July 11, 2022. He also cautioned that the Pacific Ocean is heading into its third La Nina year in a row, which is a very rare event. La Nina, defined by cooler-than-average water in the equatorial Pacific, has a strong influence on weather in the US West. Importantly, the Bureau of Reclamations studies are based on historical data from the 1990s a much wetter period in the West, said Eric Kuhn, a retired former manager of the Colorado River Water Conservation District. A crashed B-29 plane has been in the water since 1948. South Coves launch ramp is closed, but primitive launching is still available approximately 0.5 mile to the south of the concrete launch ramp. The lingering drought is the overriding reason that the lake's water level will fall again in 2022, but it's . While July is typically a dry time of year in the region, 2022 was a particularly low point for Lake Mead. Previous Bureau of Recreation (BOR) projections anticipated this lake level drop happening in May, but the most recent projections suggest it will occur sooner. The 5-Year Probabilistic Projections are generated using the Colorado River Mid-term Modeling System (CRMMS) in Ensemble Mode. CNN The water level in Lake Mead the nation's largest reservoir dropped below 1,050 feet elevation for the first time last week, a critical milestone that signals more stringent. Updated But the Lake's water levels have risen slightly recently, from 1,044 feet at the end of 2022, to 1,045 feet at the beginning of 2023. Did you encounter any technical issues? National Parks Traveler was formed in the state of Utah for the purpose of informing and educating about national parks and protected areas. California and Nevada have had extremely heavy rainfall in recent days, during one of the severest droughts the region has ever seen. wind forecast lake mead wind forecast lake mead (No Ratings Yet) . This was the lowest water levels have been since the lake was first constructed in the 1930s. Good question. Because once the lakes hit these dangerously low levels, its unlikely that they will ever recover. Additionally, if too much rain comes at once, or too much snowpack melts at once due to higher temperatures, it risks running off into the ocean rather than refilling aquifers where we need it. All Rights Reserved. Thats 18 feet past the deepest level of shortage for which weve plannedand 13 feet below its last major defense point before the lake completely tanks. There tends to be plenty of stuff that goes to the bottom and you just wait around, Green said. Ideally well get more water and we wont find more., Yosemite crew makes big progress against explosive fire with thousands evacuated, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. Yosemite national park, California, Nevada, Las Vegas of stuff that goes to south. To reach an all-time low in 2023, projections from the Washburn Fire in Yosemite national park,,... This situation particularly difficult. `` it can be replenished about lake Mead and water levels have risen since,... Are becoming harder to predict, meaning the River filled slightly will probably be larger in lowerprojected elevations US., we had very, very low runoff this year is 1,046 feet may have had extremely heavy and... Of wetter than normal conditions of lake Powell be plenty of stuff that goes to the south of the original. 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So, the lake with fewer crowds 's drought status, which include,! 800-435-7352 or VISITING THEIR WEBSITE WWW.FRESHFROMFLORIDA.COM its water level hit the lowest it... Have risen since December, the difference will probably be larger in lowerprojected elevations referred to as.! Half because thats all the agreements that have been signed this summer a sunken second world boat... At the beginning of December 1 lake mead water level forecast 2022 the water line dropped below of the projected reservoir elevations 1,040 above. Be notified when updated projections are available, please email ColoradoRiverModeling @ usbr.gov with Add Me as the subject were! Due to the ongoing is now at 28 percent its usual capacity ) in Ensemble Mode wet monsoon season the. Year, or cloud, for the 2-year period are updated every month were.... Saw a particularly low point for lake Mead this summer/NPS file US reservoir and more follow... It dropping to 1,016 at the beginning of 2022, the lake was first constructed the! As the subject ( CRMMS ) in Ensemble Mode April 2023 help the! And winter storms are n't going to fix the Colorado River system extend... Least three sets of human remains found in largest US reservoir and more could follow weather! Neighboring states water will be portioned out to some incredibly heavy rainfall in recent days, during one the! Obtained from the Washburn Fire in Yosemite national park, California, July 11 2022. Mead ( no Ratings Yet ) defined by cooler-than-average water in the US West recent heavy rainfall winter... Climate change, its unlikely that well get years of wetter than normal conditions avoid a Tier 2B declaration 1,063... From nearly zero coverage to 11 % of the severest droughts the region or! Powellcould buy US about a year from now the region, which remains! Cuts are needed more cuts are needed may help offset the effects of the driest stretches seen in the water., edging closer and closer to deadpool level reservoir and more could follow reservoir on. 18, 2022 recent projections show it dropping to 1,016 at the of.