Storms fill depleted Southwest reservoirs after record drought

Lake Powell, the second largest reservoir in the United States, has risen more than 20 feet from its mid-September low. This recent climb dwarfs the water levels gained from this year’s snowmelt, according to Martin Hoerling, a climate scientist at the University of Colorado Boulder. Despite the jump, the lake remains just over a quarter full. As of Friday, 15 of its 17 boat launches were still unusable.

The water surge stems from storms that struck the Southwest in late October and early November. These weather events pushed normally dry creeks over their banks, forcing hundreds of people to evacuate their homes. While the flooding cut off access to some areas, most of the excess water is flowing into depleted lakes and underground aquifers. Hoerling described this influx as an unexpected boost from Mother Nature.

Local communities are feeling the immediate benefits of the rainfall. In Pagosa Springs, Colorado, town manager David Harris confirmed that water restrictions affecting more than 10,000 residents have been lifted. The storms delivered about 7 inches of rain to the area. Harris noted that while the storm was destructive, it provided a good start to the winter snowpack in higher elevations.

Further south in Northern Arizona, Upper Lake Mary has received more than 3 billion gallons of water since early October. This lake supplies up to 40% of Flagstaff’s water needs. Brian Huntzinger, the city’s water production manager, stated that last weekend’s storms added the equivalent of more than two years of water to the town’s surface supply. This new volume creates a buffer for an operation that relies heavily on underground aquifers.

The region’s water infrastructure is adjusting to the sudden change in volume. In central Arizona, floodwaters trapped in homes gushed into streams feeding the Verde River. Bo Svoma, principal meteorologist at the Salt River Project, said officials released water from two nearly full dams into the river’s normally dry stretch near metro Phoenix. This action was necessary to manage the heavy flow.

Experts caution that the drought is not over. Jack Schmidt, a professor at Utah State University, said the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation is unlikely to change water releases from Lake Powell until snowpack peaks in April. Mary Carlson, a Reclamation spokesperson, acknowledged that conditions have improved but said considerable uncertainty remains. Under the current federal plan, California, Nevada, and Arizona will reduce water use by 1.25 million acre-feet annually over the next two years. Nevada and Arizona are currently challenging this plan in court.