Glen Canyon Dam
Coverage of Glen Canyon Dam in the Nexus archive.
- Officials will not release cool water from a Colorado River reservoir to protect threatened fish
Federal officials announced they will not release cool water this year from reservoirs like Glen Canyon Dam in northern Arizona, prioritizing concerns over hydropower generation. This decision pits the conservation of threatened fish, such as the humpback chub, against maintaining electrical power output. The issue affects a massive waterway used by seven U.S. states and Mexico, which is shrinking due to overuse and climate change.
- As Lake Powell shrinks, marinas are having to adapt to dwindling water levels
Lake Powell, the second-largest U.S. reservoir, is shrinking due to drought, climate change, and overuse, forcing marinas to adapt by relocating boat ramps and facilities. The lake is currently 23% full and approaching historic lows, threatening hydropower production and recreation.
- Supercharged bubbles are threatening Lake Powell’s dam. Federal officials are battling to sustain water levels.
Supercharged bubbles are threatening Lake Powell's dam, with federal officials working to maintain water levels. The same forces that impacted Glen Canyon Dam in 1983 are now causing concern as Lake Powell reaches historic lows.
- Not only is Lake Powell's water level plummeting because of drought, its total capacity is shrinking, too
Lake Powell, the second-largest human-made reservoir in the US, has lost nearly 7% of its potential storage capacity since 1963. The decline is attributed to drought and other factors, as highlighted by a recent report.