FACT BRIEFDid Lake Mead water levels rise by two feet in five days?
YES
Between April 25 and April 30, 2023, Lake Mead’s water level rose by more than 2.5 feet to reach 1,049.73 feet. This surge is due to a large release of water from Arizona’s artificial reservoir, Lake Powell. The intentional downstream flooding restored Grand Canyon beaches and sandbars before reaching Lake Mead.
Lake Mead is a man-made reservoir on the Colorado River that supplies water to 25 million people in the Southwestern United States. Ongoing massive drought in the Western U.S. has caused water levels in Lake Mead and Lake Powell to dip to record lows.
Although Lake Mead is projected to rise 33 feet higher than expected this year due to unusually high snowpack in the Upper Colorado River Basin, the Colorado River system has experienced severe drought conditions for more than two decades and will remain at risk. Today, Lake Powell and Lake Mead are 26% full when combined.
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Sources
Google Drive Lake Mead Water Levels on April 25, 2023
Google Drive Lake Mead Water Levels on April 30, 2023
Bureau of Reclamation Glen Canyon Dam Long-Term Experimental and Management Plan
National Park Service Overview of Lake Mead
Bureau of Reclamation Above-average snowpack and projected runoff will send more water from Lake Powell to Lake Mead
Vox The worst-case scenario for drought on the Colorado River
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