Projection for end of October 2022 is 1,047.47 feet. Rain in the region has lifted its water levels recently. Lake levels are expressed as altitudes the number of feet the lake's surface is above sea level not as depths. Lake Mead has been slowly rising now at 1,046.3 feet and is now about 5.5 feet above where it was near the end of July (1,040.6 feet). The lake's water levels have risen since December, but are forecast to reach an all-time low later in the year. South Coves launch ramp is closed, but primitive launching is still available approximately 0.5 mile to the south of the concrete launch ramp. The U.S. Drought Monitor shows that between October last year and January 24, 2023, the percentage of Nevada suffering from Extreme Drought decreased from 44.61 to 18.53, with the rest of the state experiencing Moderate Drought and Severe Drought. The NPS recognizes the important role that launch ramps and marinas play in the economies of gateway communities and the numerous businesses that operate in the parks, and robust civic and stakeholder engagement will be a part of longer-term planning. Drought conditions in the Southwest worsened significantly over the past week, the US Drought Monitor reported Thursday. Lake Mead is on the border of Nevada and Arizona. More extreme water cuts are all but certain in the Southwest starting next year including new water cuts for California according to the latest government forecast for the Colorado River and Lake Mead, the countrys largest reservoir. Do you have a tip on a science story that Newsweek should be covering? Water levels in Lake Mead reached the lowest they have ever been last July, at 1,040.8 feet. The monthly, two-year forecast from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation has once again been revised down, with lake levels hitting a new potential low of 1,007 feet of elevation in November 2023. . A forecast from the Bureau of Reclamation released on August 31 show the two and five year projections at the lake. All Rights Reserved. A side by side comparison shows the changes in Lake Mead's water levels since 2000 to 2022. More human remains were discovered at Lake Mead, unprecedented strategy to boost water levels, California is in a water crisis, yet usage is way up. Despite the lackluster outlook for Lake Mead's water levels, the drought status of California, Nevada and Arizona has been alleviated significantly by the recent rainfall. The good news is that leaving extra water in Powellcould buy us about a year, or maybe more if were lucky. The Colorado River irrigates farms, powers electric grids and provides drinking water for 40 million people. Reach Allhands at joanna.allhands@arizonarepublic.com. Since March 15, 2022, when the paper was presented to the Geological Society of America, the official water level for Lake Mead dropped from 1,067 feet to 1,041 feet in August, then increased . According to BORs March 2022 24-month forecast, water levels at Lake Mead will drop earlier-than-expected. Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters. With the ongoing drought, these weather patterns are becoming more unpredictable and the lake isn't filling up as much as it once did. And Lake Mead's water levels are currently 0.3 percent higher than originally predicted in December, the Bureau of Reclamation said, according to a News Now report. Lake Mead's water levels have risen slightly from 1,042.97 feet at the beginning of December, to 1,045.80 feet as of January 19. more information on current conditions Callville Bay launch ramp is open on one lane of pipe mat and will likely close in April 2022 or when the lake level drops below 1,062 feet elevation. If water levels keep declining, it could mean bad things for surrounding cities and communities that rely on Lake Mead for water. National Parks Traveler is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit media organization. Launch ramps at Temple Bar and Boulder Harbor will remain closed. The projection for the end of July this year is 1,046 feet. CNN The water level in Lake Mead the nation's largest reservoir dropped below 1,050 feet elevation for the first time last week, a critical milestone that signals more stringent. During the summer, the lake's water levels hit a new low at 1,040 feetthis was the lowest since its construction in the 1930s. The forecast is grim the Colorado River has endured a drought for two decades and officials project Lake Meads water levels will continue to fall, meaning that more discoveries will be unearthed. And what happens upstream is of critical importance to Lake Mead. The current water elevation for end of March is 1,063.11 feet. 2:44 PM EDT, Thu May 26, 2022. And Lake Mead today, Jan. 31 2023. Projected water levels are provided typically on the 15th of each month by theBOR.Water level status projections from the BORs March 2022 Most Probable Inflow 24-Month Study: The NPS and interagency partners are collaborating to plan for longer term operational conditions as water levels in Lake Mead continue to fluctuate. It is now at its lowest level since the lake was being filled in 1937. Now officials seek to slash that use to 86 gallons by 2035, a task the . Individual La Nina years can be wet or dry for the Colorado River basin, Kuhn said. Stock image of Lake Mead in 2021. "But, remember, because our reservoirsparticularly Powell and Meadare so low from 23-plus years of drought, it would take many years of above-average snow and runoff to refill the reservoirs. Lake Mead doesn't just rely on rainfall for its water, but snowpack that flows down through the mountains. Without those emergency steps, the government estimated there was about a 25% chance the Glen Canyon Dam, which generates power for as many as 5.8 million homes and businesses across seven states, would have stopped producing energy by the end of this year. Let us know via science@newsweek.com. While July is typically a dry time of year in the region, 2022 was a particularly low point for Lake Mead. Residents of the following states may obtain a copy of our financial and additional information as stated below: The entire southwest is in real trouble. Correction 2/2/23: This article was updated to state that increased snowpack on the Rocky Mountains will feed Lakes Mead and Powell. Since the beginning of December, the reservoir's water levels have steadily increased. 25 Feb/23. A grueling drought in the American west has depleted the lake, a crucial water source for 25 million people, drying out tributaries, threatening hydropower production and closing boat ramps at the popular recreation site. Lake Mead, seen here on Sunday, is running well below the federal government's predicted water level. Pitt told Newsweek that we would need three average years of snowfall without any water use to fully replenish Lake Mead and Lake Powell. It is formed by the Hoover Dam, which was first constructed between 1931 and 1936. Hot records are outpacing cool by more than 10-to-1 this year as Europe, US brace for dangerous heat. The Bureau of Reclamation's most recent projections show Lake Mead dropping to 1,033.4 feet in elevation by the end of 2023, about 14 feet lower than the reservoir's current level. Launch ramps at Temple Bar and Boulder Harbor will remain closed. 2023 Cable News Network. Its far below what the outlooks were predicting as of last year. Wet years in the 1990s and 2000s did not refill the lakes it simply kept them from going lower. Do you have a tip on a science story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a tip on a science story that Newsweek should be covering? ELEVATION PROJECTIONS. water that was intended for Lake Mead but left inLake Powell, Looming Colorado River shortages could raise water rates, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. It made national headlines in 2022 as its water level hit the lowest it had ever been due to the ongoing . Part of the agreement to leave water in Lake Powell was that when it came time to declare a shortage, that water would be counted as if it were in Lake Mead. Colorado River System Projections Overview, probabilistic results for the 2-year period, 2022 Glen Canyon Dam operational adjustment, Equalization Tier (Powell >= Equalization [EQ] Elevation), Upper Elevation Balancing Tier (Powell < EQ Elevation and >= 3,575 ft), Upper Elevation Balancing - annual release > 8.23 maf, Upper Elevation Balancing - annual release = 8.23 maf, Upper Elevation Balancing - annual release < 8.23 maf, Mid-Elevation Release Tier (Powell < 3,575 and >= 3,525 ft), Mid-Elevation Release - annual release = 8.23 maf, Mid-Elevation Release - annual release = 7.48 maf, Lower Elevation Balancing Tier (Powell < 3,525 ft), Lower Elevation Balancing - annual release > 8.23 maf, Lower Elevation Balancing - annual release < 8.23 maf, Surplus Condition - any amount (Mead >= 1,145 ft), Normal Year or ICS Surplus Condition (Mead < 1,145 and > 1,075 ft), Recovery of DCP ICS / Mexicos Water Savings (Mead >/>= 1,110 ft), DCP Contribution / Mexicos Water Savings (Mead <= 1,090 and > 1,075 ft), Shortage Condition - any amount (Mead <= 1,075 ft), Shortage / Reduction - 1st Level (Mead <= 1,075 and >= 1,050 ft), DCP Contribution / Mexicos Water Savings (Mead <= 1,075 and >= 1,050 ft), Shortage / Reduction - 2nd Level (Mead < 1,050 and >= 1,025 ft), DCP Contribution / Mexicos Water Savings (Mead < 1,050 and > 1,045 ft), DCP Contribution / Mexicos Water Savings (Mead <= 1,045 and > 1,040 ft), DCP Contribution / Mexicos Water Savings (Mead <= 1,040 and > 1,035 ft), DCP Contribution / Mexicos Water Savings (Mead <= 1,035 and > 1,030 ft), DCP Contribution / Mexicos Water Savings (Mead <= 1,030 and >=/> 1,025 ft), Shortage / Reduction - 3rd Level (Mead < 1,025 ft), DCP Contribution / Mexicos Water Savings (Mead