# Calls to Drain Lake Powell Increase Amid Severe Colorado River Drought Persistent drought and climate change spark debate over draining Lake Powell to save water. - **Source:** [Grist](https://grist.org/) - **Published:** 2026-11-08 - **Topic:** [climate](https://brifing.si/c/climate) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/b5c79c33-a6f4-4cfa-a928-5ec1717753b0 ## Historic Drought Strains River The Southwestern United States is enduring a 27-year drought, the longest dry spell in 1,200 years. This crisis has severely reduced the Colorado River's flow, which relies on Rocky Mountain snowpack for 80 percent of its volume. Rising temperatures are accelerating evaporation and melting snow earlier, threatening the stability of major reservoirs. ## Lake Powell Reaches Critical Lows Lake Powell recently hit a record low, sitting less than 150 feet above its dead pool level. This threshold prevents water from flowing through the Glen Canyon Dam’s bypass tubes to Lake Mead. Consequently, hydropower generation has plummeted, forcing officials to slash water deliveries to Arizona, California, and Nevada, impacting local agriculture. ## Infrastructure Limitations Pose Risks The Glen Canyon Dam faces structural risks if water levels drop below the minimum power pool. Relying on bypass tubes for sustained discharge could cause vibrations and scouring, potentially damaging the dam. Although the Bureau of Reclamation inspected these tubes in 2025, their long-term capacity remains insufficient for current water management needs. ## The Fill Mead First Proposal Advocates now propose draining Lake Powell through new diversion tunnels drilled near the riverbed. This plan, known as Fill Mead First, aims to reduce annual evaporative losses by hundreds of thousands of acre-feet. Supporters argue this approach would restore Glen Canyon's ecosystem while boosting hydropower efficiency at the downstream Lake Mead facility. ## Ecological and Cultural Restoration Draining the reservoir would allow the original Glen Canyon landscape, including sacred Indigenous sites and red rock formations, to reemerge. Native vegetation like cottonwoods and willows would likely return, displacing invasive species. Wildlife such as beavers and river otters could reclaim habitats that have been submerged for over sixty years. ## Economic and Political Obstacles The proposal faces significant resistance from local recreation industries in Page, Arizona, and groups like the BlueRibbon Coalition. Critics suggest alternative solutions, such as a $40 billion investment in desalination and advanced water reuse technologies. Furthermore, the federal government excluded the drainage option from its recent ten-year management plan finalized in August. ## Replacing Lost Hydropower Capacity Proponents argue that the loss of the Glen Canyon Dam’s 730-megawatt capacity is manageable through renewable energy expansion. They point to the Gemini solar plant near Las Vegas, which produces 690 megawatts, as a viable model. Replacing dam-based power with solar could mitigate the energy impact of decommissioning the reservoir's current operations. ## Complex Downstream Ecosystem Impacts Altering the river's flow would create unpredictable changes for downstream ecosystems, including the Grand Canyon. Increased sediment loads and higher turbidity would reshape the riverbed, potentially harming native fish populations while introducing non-native species previously trapped in Lake Powell. Experts emphasize that these environmental trade-offs remain difficult to fully forecast or control. ## Running Out of Options As the Colorado River continues to shrink, the debate over the Glen Canyon Dam has shifted from radical to reasonable. While the federal government remains cautious, experts argue that current propping-up strategies are merely delaying an inevitable collapse. The future of the river depends on addressing these structural and hydrological realities immediately. ## Sources covering this story - https://grist.org/drought/as-the-colorado-river-shrinks-calls-to-drain-lake-powell-grow/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._