Satellite Images Show How Lake Powell Has Drained to Record Low in 9 Years
Images published by NASA show the major reservoir's decline, after the lake hit a record low in August.
Satellite images released by NASA reveal the dramatic decline of Lake Powell, the second-largest reservoir in the United States, over a nine-year period. The images compare the lake's water levels on September 1, 2017, and September 10, 2026, highlighting the significant drop in water volume. The 2026 image was taken a month after Lake Powell's water level fell below the previous record low of 3,519.92 feet, which was set in April 2023.
Lake Powell, located along the Colorado River, serves as a vital water source for seven U.S. states and Mexico, providing municipal water, hydropower, recreation, and supporting agricultural lands. The recent decline in water levels is attributed to prolonged drought and a record-low snowpack in the Colorado River Basin during the 2025-2026 winter season.
Federal water managers have taken steps to address the issue, including releasing water from upstream Flaming Gorge Reservoir and reducing releases from Lake Powell to Lake Mead. Despite these efforts, experts predict that without significant intervention, the declining water levels could threaten hydropower production at Glen Canyon Dam.
Projections suggest that Lake Powell's water level could rise by 40 feet over the next two years, while Lake Mead could fall by a similar amount.
Brief written by urgent.news from Newsweek's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
