Federal officials reported Tuesday that the water level in Lake Powell, one of the main water storage reservoirs for the Colorado River Basin, could fall low enough to stop hydropower generation at the reservoir by December 2026. The reservoir’s water levels have fallen as the Colorado River Basin, the water supply for 40 million people, has been overstressed by rising temperatures, prolonged drought and relentless demand. Upper Basin officials sounded the alarm in June, saying this year’s conditions echo the extreme conditions of 2021 and 2022, when Lake Powell and its sister reservoir, Lake Mead, dropped to historic lows. The basin needs a different management approach, specifically one that is more closely tied to the actual water supply each year, the Upper Colorado River Commission’s statement said.

Other Colorado River Basin news:

• Newsweek: Lake Powell warning over water levels issued for 2026
• Mohave Daily News (Bullhead City, Ariz.): Lowered water releases slated at Davis Dam on July 29
• KJZZ (Phoenix, Ariz.): Bureau of Reclamation wants public input on a project to reduce sediment in Verde River lakes
• Aspen Times (Colo.): Judge sides with River District in Grand County dam case