New satellite images have captured a significant retreat of Lake Powell over the past nine years. These images contrast the lake near Glen Canyon Dam on September 1, 2017, with the same area on September 10, 2026. Prolonged drought has led to the reservoir reaching unprecedented low levels.
NASA labeled Lake Powell’s water level in 2017 as one of the decade’s highest. However, the image from September 2026 displayed a drastically reduced water volume. NASA reported that the water level was at 3,517.24 feet on September 10, 2026, approximately a month after falling below the previous low of 3,519.92 feet set in April 2023.
Importance of Lake Powell and the Colorado River System
Lake Powell is the second-largest reservoir in the United States, located along the Colorado River, which runs approximately 1,400 miles. The river is vital for seven states—Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming—and Mexico.
The Colorado River supplies municipal water for millions of people and supports hydropower, recreational activities, wildlife, and extensive agricultural land.
Record Lows in Major Colorado River Reservoirs
NASA’s images reveal record low levels not only in Lake Powell but also in Lake Mead, the largest reservoir in the country. These lows occurred in August following an exceptionally low winter snowpack in 2025-2026.
“The reservoir will likely recover at least a little this winter, and with very heavy snowpack it could recover a lot, but levels at both Lake Mead and Lake Powell have ratcheted down over the last quarter century and one good winter won’t be enough to stabilize the system over the long term,” said Sarah Porter, director of the Kyl Center for Water Policy at Arizona State University.
In April, federal water managers took measures to support Lake Powell’s water levels. They released additional water from the upstream Flaming Gorge Reservoir and decreased downstream releases from Lake Powell to Lake Mead.
The Bureau of Reclamation warned that without significant action, the decline in Lake Powell’s water level could jeopardize hydropower production at Glen Canyon Dam.
Future Projections for Lake Powell
Recent federal projections suggest that Lake Powell’s water level could increase by about 40 feet over the next two years. However, the same projections indicate a possible decrease in Lake Mead’s levels by a similar margin.
The Bureau of Reclamation’s September 2026 24-Month Study forecasted that Lake Powell might reach 3,558.44 feet by June 2028, assuming 6 million acre-feet of water is released from Lake Powell in the 2027 operating year. Meanwhile, Lake Mead could drop to 998.40 feet by August of the same year.
For further information, please contact Newsweek editor Edward Pearcey.