Possible damage to Glen Canyon Dam tubes could spell trouble for Lake Mead
Key backup tubes inside the Glen Canyon Dam might be damaged, potentially threatening the delivery of water to Lake Mead in the future if water levels ever dip too low in Lake Powell, according to a Bureau of Reclamation memo. Below 3,490 feet, water releases from Lake Powell are wholly dependent on “river outlet works,” which water managers now feel are not functional and could threaten the water supply downstream. Currently, the reservoir sits at 3,558 feet, and the latest two-year projection places water levels above 3,560 feet until at least February 2026. Looming threats of climate change and evaporative losses also are complicating state negotiations for how to allocate the shrinking Colorado River.
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