Wednesday Top of the Scroll: Fontenelle Reservoir about half-full as downstream states demand more water
As thirsty downstream states along the Colorado River drainage continue to clamor for water, Wyoming is having problems of its own, as indicated by low levels at Fontenelle Reservoir in Lincoln County. As of early April, Fontenelle Reservoir was at 49% of its full storage capacity, according to the Bureau of Reclamation — despite March inflows roughly 99% of average. Downstream from Fontenelle, Flaming Gorge Reservoir will be drawn down between 660,000 and up to 1 million acre-feet between now and April 2027, according to the Bureau of Reclamation. … So far, there are not any plans for similar drawdowns at Fontenelle Reservoir. But some Wyomingites wonder if that’s inevitable as drought conditions persist across the West.
Other Colorado River management news:
- Courthouse News Service: Phoenix explores mutual aid to conserve threatened water supply
- Las Vegas Review-Journal: States seek a ‘marriage counselor’ in Colorado River brawl. Are they too late?
- 12News (Phoenix): City leaders say Phoenix is ‘prepared’ in face of drought, but conditions on Colorado River remain a concern
- Arizona’s Family (Phoenix): Phoenix plans tougher water cuts as Colorado River crisis grows
- Lake Powell Chronicle (Miami, Ariz.): The great shuffle: emergency water moves aim to save Glen Canyon power
- Colorado Public Radio: Western Slope boaters pull tons of trash from the Colorado River in cleanup
- Circle of Blue: Blog: Glen Canyon Dam faces its existential moment
