Thursday Top of the Scroll: Drought and old pipes could slow Colorado River to a trickle
In their pleas to Western states to cut back on water use from the Colorado River Basin, federal officials are keenly focused on keeping Lake Powell’s elevation at 3,490 feet — the minimum needed to keep hydropower humming at Glen Canyon Dam. But if federal efforts can’t stop the reservoir from shrinking to new lows — its elevation is 3,536 feet as of Monday — the lights going out might not even be the worst problem. If it dips 60 feet below its current level, the already dwindling Colorado River could trickle down into a fraction of what is expected for states below the dam, a new analysis by conservation groups found.
Related articles:
- The New York Times: Opinion: The Coming Crisis Along the Colorado River
- KLAS-Las Vegas: Glen Canyon Dam ‘antique plumbing’ a water blocker, new report says
- KNAU- Flagstaff: As wells run dry, Hualapai tribe urges Senate to pass proposed Colorado River water plan
- Boulder City Review: Drought drives tough talks to cut water use
- KUNC – Greeley, Colo.: A mud-caked “terra incognita” emerges in Glen Canyon as Lake Powell declines to historic low
- KUNC – Greeley, Colo.: More August rain may ease drought conditions temporarily