FORT COLLINS, Colo. - Canyons in eastern Utah will churn this spring with huge volumes of water — as much as 50,000 toilets flushing constantly at the same time — in a desperate attempt to maintain electricity generation for thousands of homes across much of the Western U.S.
The Green and Colorado river flows might seem like a bounty of moisture in a parched desert of sandstone arches and prickly cacti, but in fact, it’s just the opposite.
After the driest winter on record, officials this spring want to raise the level of badly depleted Lake Powell on the Colorado River to keep its hydropower humming. To do so, they plan to eventually let out as much as a third of the water in Flaming Gorge Reservoir upstream on the Green River in Wyoming and Utah, which would exceed a record 2022 surge that kept electricity flowing.
Lake Powell, held back by Glen Canyon Dam, supplies inexpensive and carbon-free electricity to more than 350,000 homes. But it comes at a growing cost elsewhere in a contested river basin relied upon heavily by ranchers, industries, and some 40 million residential water customers.
At Flaming Gorge in southwestern Wyoming, Buckboard Marina owners Tony and Jen Valdez are eyeing water levels expected to decline depth-wise significantly due to the releases. “Of course, we’re concerned,” Jen Valdez said. “And it will probably get to a point where we’ll need to be more concerned.”
A balancing act to keep up power production
If everything goes to plan — and with no relief from the weather — Flaming Gorge will fall by as much as 27 feet a year from now, leaving Buckboard Marina even more high and dry.
Though it’s likely only a temporary solution amid long-term drought, there will be effects downstream, too, as U.S. Bureau of Reclamation water managers plan to keep more water than usual from flowing out of Lake Powell.
Downstream, Lake Mead near Las Vegas is on track to resemble lows four years ago that revealed submerged boats and human remains.
The drastic measures are necessary to keep the Powell waterline high enough to run the power-generation turbines without air getting into the system and causing damage, federal officials say.
Hydropower is a renewable resource — when there’s water
From cities and tribes to rural electric cooperatives and public utility districts, many customers receive hydropower electricity from Glen Canyon Dam and other federal generators. A loss of hydropower would require alternative sources that likely would be more expensive and not renewable, heightening concerns among electricity-dependent communities.
Increasingly frequent drought, evaporation, and water demand have shrunk the level of Lake Powell, which is critical for maintaining its hydropower capabilities, further complicating efforts to balance energy needs with ecological impacts. Federal actions have to address both deteriorating conditions in reservoirs and their subsequent effects on wildlife and local economies.
A decades-long trend of worsening drought
The strongest releases from Flaming Gorge in the days and weeks ahead will be calibrated to help native fish in the Green River tributary. Meanwhile, the plan to hold back considerable water in Lake Powell raises questions about environmental costs and long-term resource management. Experts indicate that a true resolution to this crisis represents a significant challenge, heavily influenced by climate change.
Ultimately, this spring’s water management decisions will not only impact energy production but also present an ongoing challenge as Utah grapples with the realities of a dwindling water supply amid changing climate conditions.
