Water levels in Lake Powell are 29 feet lower than at this same time last year and are expected to continue to drop, prompting warnings of boat ramp closures in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.
The lake's water level sat at 3,557 feet on Wednesday, according to the Bureau of Reclamation. That's expected to continue to decline over the next several months.
"Lake level changes will influence the functionality of all launch ramps," Glen Canyon officials said in a news release.
At least one site, Halls Crossing Launch Ramp, is expected to be unusable as soon as early August.
"The National Park Service is actively monitoring conditions and will continue to adapt infrastructure - such as floating docks, walkways, and ramp extensions - where feasible, to support continued recreational use throughout the lake," the release said.
Longer term, the Bureau of Reclamation's latest update, issued July 15, predicts that lake levels will drop through the rest of the calendar year. That's a change from April, when lake levels were expected to remain "relatively steady"
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area straddles the border of Arizona and Utah. Most of the region is experiencing at least moderate drought conditions, according to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor update.
Lake Powell is fed by the Colorado River, which relies primarily on snowmelt from the Rocky Mountains. This winter saw a persistent snow drought, and an early snowpack melt, which means less runoff to fill the lake. Arizona and southern Utah are among the areas experiencing the most severe impacts, according to the National Integrated Drought Information System..
Park officials advise boaters to plan ahead.
"It is the vessel operator’s responsibility to know the minimum water depth required for launching your boat based on the characteristics of your vessel and trailer," the news release said. "Boaters are strongly encouraged to check the operational status of their preferred launch site before launching."
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