Prolonged drought conditions affecting the Colorado River Basin led to record low hydropower generation this summer in the Southwestern electricity supply region, which includes Arizona, New Mexico, and small parts of Nevada and California. Hydropower generation from April through August 2026 was 19% lower than during the same period last year and 28% lower than the 10-year average, according to the latest data from our Form EIA-923 survey. Water elevations at Lake Powell and Lake Mead, which are formed by the Glen Canyon Dam and Hoover Dam, respectively, hit record lows. To be able to generate hydropower at the Glen Canyon Dam, Lake Powell should have an elevation of at least 3,490 feet, also known as the minimum power pool. At the end of September, this elevation reached 3,518 feet, less than 1% above minimum power pool.

Other Colorado River management news:

• KJZZ (Phoenix): Phoenix will likely move to Stage 2 drought conditions. What does that mean for your water?
• The Arizona Republic (Phoenix): This Arizona city bans wasting water and fines are steep
• NBC: Rains have hammered the Southwest. For the Colorado River, it’s merely a dent.
• WaterWorld: A century of Colorado River rules meets a drier reality
• National Audubon Society: Blog: Historic Southwest flooding doesn’t fix the Colorado River’s problems