The Bureau of Reclamation Aug. 15 released its Colorado River Basin August 2019 24-month study, which sets the annual operations for Lake Mead and Lake Powell in 2020. Based on projections in the 24-month study, Lake Mead will operate in the “normal” or “surplus” condition range in calendar year 2020. Lake Powell will operate in a range called “upper elevation balancing tier” in the 2020 water year, which is Oct. 1, 2019 to Sept. 30, 2020. According to a press release from the bureau, the Upper Basin experienced above-average snowpack, and runoff was 145% of average this past spring, raising Lake Powell’s elevation by more than 50 feet since early April. Total Colorado River system storage today is 55% of capacity, up from 49% at this time last year. In addition, critical drought contingency plans adopted by the seven basin states, federal government and Mexico earlier this year are now in place to reduce risks to the system, officials said. To view the full article visit the Mohab Times.
