Draining Lake Powell to Preserve Lake Mead Amid Colorado River Drought

The Glen Canyon Institute’s “Fill Mead First” plan calls for gradually lowering Lake Powell and routing its water downstream through the Grand Canyon into Lake Mead. Bypass tunnels around Glen Canyon Dam would create a free-flowing river segment while retaining the dam as emergency storage for flood years.

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Glen Canyon Dam, built 1956-1963, was designed for mid-20th-century river flows that have fallen about 20 % since 2000. The dam lacks a low-level outlet, leaving roughly 6 million acre-feet inaccessible. Zanna Stutts leads the institute’s proposal; the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and Upper- and Lower-Basin states manage the system.

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As of early July, Lake Powell sits at 23 % (some reports 24 %) full, holding 35 % of its average storage, while Lake Mead is also about a quarter full. The combined shortfall threatens water supplies for roughly 40 million people and reduces hydropower capacity at Glen Canyon Dam.

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The Bureau of Reclamation has responded with emergency measures: water is being transferred from Flaming Gorge Reservoir, annual releases through Glen Canyon Dam were cut by 1.48 million acre-feet, and 600,000–1 million acre-feet are sent downstream each month. These steps aim to keep Powell above the 3,500-foot dead-pool elevation through April 2027, citing dam infrastructure limits.

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Zanna Stutts describes the Bureau’s actions as “reservoir triage” and a one-year “Band-Aid” fix, arguing that long-term management must reflect the river’s reduced flow. Local observers echo concerns, noting visibly lower water levels and urging science-based decisions.

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Visitors note that Lone Rock has become a peninsula and new islands have formed near marinas, visual evidence of the rapid drawdown.

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Sources differ on Powell’s exact fullness—23 % versus 24 %—and provide limited detail on the engineering feasibility of bypass tunnels or permanent dam removal.

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Upper- and Lower-Basin states aim to adopt a new water-management plan before current operating guidelines expire at year-end. The proposal may lead to tunnel construction and retains the option to remove Glen Canyon Dam, which would require congressional approval. NOAA forecasts near-to-above-normal precipitation for the interior West.

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• “If we have the courage to take a step back and think about, 'Why was Glen Canyon Dam built? Is that still working?' The answer is no,” — Zanna Stutts, Program Director, Glen Canyon Institute

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• “We can't keep doing this,” — Zanna Stutts, Program Director, Glen Canyon Institute

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• “Without these emergency actions taken by the Bureau of Reclamation, Glen Canyon Dam wasn't going to be producing hydropower as of this summer," she said.” — Zanna Stutts, Program Director, Glen Canyon Institute

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• “Obviously the water's getting lower," said Colin Gonzalez.” — Colin Gonzalez, Lake Powell Visitor

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