Document Type
Working Paper
Publication Date
7-14-2026
Abstract
On Sunday, July 12, the surface of Lake Powell was 3524.32 feet above sea level, and the surface of Lake Mead was at 1042.77 ft.7 These elevations equated to 5,505,869 and 7,169,640 acre feet (af), respectively, of live storage in the two reservoirs. The combined total live storage of these reservoirs was 12,675,509 af. The last time the combined total live storage in Lake Powell and Lake Mead was this small was May 23, 1957, during construction of Glen Canyon Dam when the entire amount of 12,668,000 af was stored in Lake Mead.
Recommended Citation
Schmidt, Jack; Anne Castle; John Fleck; Eric Kuhn; Kathryn Sorensen; and Katherine Tara. "A Significant Moment in the Colorado River Water Supply Crisis." (2026). https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/uc_traveling_wilburys/5