Lake Powell’s total capacity is shrinking, report shows

Cnn
–

Powell LakeThe second largest human manufacturing reservoir in the United States has lost almost 7% of its potential storage capacity since 1963, when the Glen Canyon dam was built, according to a new report.

In addition to the loss of water due to a Intense infrared droughtUS Geological Survey and Bureau of Reclamation report foundLake Powell was faced with an average annual loss of storage capacity of approximately 33,270 acres, or 11 billion gallons, per year between 1963 and 2018.

It is enough water to fill the reflective pool on the National Mall about 1,600 times.

The capacity of the reservoir is narrowed due to sediments which flow from Rivers of Colorado and San JuanAccording to the report. These sediments are deposited at the bottom of the tank and decrease the total quantity of water that the tank may contain.

Lake Powell was around 25%on Monday, according to data from the Reclamation Bureau.

This is bad news for a region already faced with water shortages and extreme forest fires due to drought. Experts from the national ocean and atmospheric administration said that last week, these conditions are should at least continue – If not aggravated – in the coming months.

Lake Powell is an important reservoir in the Colorado river basin. Lake Powell and Lake Mead Voisin, the country’s largest reservoir, drained at an alarming rate. In August, the federal government declared for the first time a shortage of water on the Colorado river after the water level of Lake Mead immersed in unprecedented stockingsTrigger compulsory water consumption cuts for the southwest states that started in January.

And last week, Lake Powell soaked below The critical threshold of 3,525 feet above sea level, arousing additional concerns concerning the supply of water and the hydroelectric production of millions of people to the west count for electricity.

The importance of the water supply down along Colorado cannot be overestimated.

The system provides water for more than 40 million people living in seven Western states and Mexico. Powell and Mead lakes provide a critical supply of drinking water and irrigation for many in the region, including rural farms, ranches and native communities.

“It is of vital importance that we have the most available scientific information as well as this report to provide a clear understanding of the availability of water in Lake Powell as we are planning the future,” said Tanya Trujillo, Deputy Secretary of Water and Sciences with the American Department of the Interior, in a press release. “The Colorado river system faces multiple challenges, including the effects of 22 -year -old drought and the increased impacts of climate change.”