Lake Powell’s elevation dropped to 3,519.91 feet above sea level, which is its lowest level since 1967, during the 13-year period that the dam initially filled from 1960 to 1973. This means that Powell is only 30 feet away from the point where Glenn Canyon Dam will no longer be able to generate hydropower.
At that level, the Dam will also rely on backup drainage tubes to release water downstream. These tubes were designed incorrectly, because they were never meant to be used for long-term discharge. Due to cavitation, these tubes are already in rough shape, and using them to send water downstream through the Grand Canyon to Lake Mead could potentially ruin the entire Glenn Canyon Dam.
If Powell drops any lower, to 3,370 feet, water will not flow through the Glenn Canyon Dam. It’s expected that Powell will hit its threshold for power generation sometime in 2026 or early 2027. If another bad winter hits the West, then getting to that deadpool level of 3,370 feet is within possibility.
At that point, cities like Phoenix and Tucson would be among the first to have their share of Colorado River water cut. Other cities along the route could see water cuts, as well.
Over 40 million people and 5 million acres of farmland depend on the Colorado River, and its storage in Powell and Mead is vital to the survival of the American Southwest.