Between 1963 and 2018 Lake Powell faced an average annual loss of 33,270 acre-feet, or 11 billion gallons, due to an intense multiyear drought, according to the US Geological Survey and the Bureau of Reclamation.
That's enough water to fill the Reflecting Pool on the National Mall about 1,600 times.
The capacity of the reservoir is shrinking because of sediments flowing in from the Colorado and San Juan rivers, according to the report. The sediments settle at the bottom of the reservoir and decrease the amount of water the reservoir can hold.
According to the Bureau of Reclamation, Lake Powell was about 25% full as of Monday.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration drought experts said last week these conditions are expected to continue, if not worsen, in the coming months. Lake Powell is an important reservoir in the Colorado River Basin. Lake Powell and nearby Lake Mead, the nation's largest reservoir, have drained at an alarming rate. In August, the federal government declared a water shortage on the Colorado River for the first time after Lake Mead's water level plunged to unprecedented lows, triggering water consumption cuts for states in the Southwest that began in January. Lake Powell fell below the critical threshold of 3,525 feet above sea level last week, sparking concerns about water supply and hydropower generation millions of people in the West rely on for electricity. The significance of the dwindling water supply along the Colorado can't be overstated. More than 40 million people live in seven western states and Mexico and get water from the system. Lake Powell and Mead provide critical drinking water and irrigation for many in the region, including rural farms, ranches and native communities. It is important that we have the best-available scientific information like this report to provide a clear understanding of water availability in Lake Powell as we plan for the future, Tanya Trujillo, assistant secretary for water and science at the US Department of Interior, said in a statement. The Colorado River system is faced with multiple challenges, including the effects of a 22 year-long drought and the increased impacts of climate change.