04/18/2026
The Colorado River Basin faces historic drought and record low snowpack. The April 24 Month Study shows Lake Powell could fall below 3,490 feet by August 2026 without intervention, threatening water and power reliability for more than 40 million people.
Under the Drought Response Operations Agreement, the Bureau of Reclamation is intending to release 660,000 to 1 million acre-feet from Flaming Gorge through April 2027 and is intending to reduce annual releases from Lake Powell to Lake Mead by 1.48 million acre-feet. These steps are expected to raise Lake Powell about 54 feet to at least 3500 feet by April 2027.
Reclamation continues working with basin states, tribes, Mexico and partners to address drought impacts, protect infrastructure and keep communities informed.
To learn more, visit: https://www.usbr.gov/newsroom/news-release/5326
