Mega drought in western United States leaves a nearly dry Lake Powell

Lake Powell is a reservoir on the Colorado River in the U.S. state of Utah. It is the second-largest man-made lake in the United States, after Lake Mead. The lake was created in the mid-1960s by the creation of Glen Canyon Dam, part of the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. The dam was located in the narrow, winding Glen Canyon, a canyon carved by the Colorado River through plateaus of the Colorado Plateau. Lake Powell is a popular recreational and boating destination for visitors to the Southwest. Its surrounding area offers many recreational opportunities for fishing, boating, hiking, camping and other outdoor activities.

Lake Powell in Arizona, the second largest reservoir on the US-Mexico border, is, for the time being, a nearly dry lake. The reservoir, which was built in the 1960s, has suffered from a drought that is currently the worst in the lake’s recorded history, and is predicted to last until April, exacerbating the lack of water at the lake.

Lake Powell, a reservoir located in the northwest corner of the U.S., will likely be the lowest ever by June 1, 2018. The lake, which is a scenic area in Utah, received so much less water than predicted that the area around it is dry. The drought has made the water levels drop an average of 1.5 feet per month, which is about half the normal amount, and only a quarter of the amount that was expected.

Mega-drought-in-western-United-States-leaves-a-nearly-dry

 

The Western United States is experiencing a megadrought caused by climate change. Lakes and reservoirs have dried up. Those who like water sports are in a pickle since the water level has plummeted.

The boundary between Utah and Arizona is where Lake Powell is located. It is a famous tourist attraction for visitors who come from all over the country to enjoy houseboat holidays. This year’s water level, however, is much lower than previous year’s. It’s concerning since it seems to be a result of the mega-drought exacerbated by climate change.

Climate change is a topic that is being debated on a global scale. This is a problem that the whole globe must confront. Droughts, forest fires, floods, sea-level rise, and other natural disasters are caused by it, and it disrupts the ecological equilibrium.

Less water in the lakes implies fewer visitors, which has an impact on the local economy. According to NBC News, boats are now navigating through narrow gorges that were previously submerged. Some companies are gasping for air as a result of the circumstance. Many rental businesses have no choice but to cancel their reservations for the month of August. This is a very popular month. The lake is managed by the National Park Service. It has already put a stop to the boats’ launch in mid-July. California is prone to drought, and this year is no exception.

The drought has an impact on the water supply.

The Colorado River is stored in Lake Powell and Lake Mead. The former is the United States’ second-largest reservoir. Due to the current drought, both of these bodies of water are in desperate need of water. These lakes provide as a source of water for an area that spans seven states.

Nearly 40 million people are affected by water scarcity. The agriculture sector is also feeling the strain. Those who dismiss climate change as a non-issue recognize that drought necessitates proactive action on all fronts. According to NBC News, a tour company operator said, “It’s very terrible that they’re letting such a lovely, gorgeous site to fall away.” A news article from last year stated that the frequency of drought in areas of Europe may rise unless CO2 levels are reduced.

The American West is suffering from a severe drought.

By late August, the Great Salt Lake in Utah and Lake Orville in California may have reached record lows. At this time of year, most of the state’s reservoirs contain less water than they should. Lake Powell’s water level was 3,700 feet in 1983. It hit a new low of 3,553 feet last week. Last month, the government released water from upstream sources to help alleviate the situation. This was required to guarantee the dam’s hydroelectric supply would be available.

According to NBC News, high temperatures cause parched soil. As a consequence, river water evaporates as it travels across the American West, which is ravaged by drought. It seems that studies have determined that the current 20-year megadrought is driven by human-induced climate change.

A media report from May 2019 said that North Korea was experiencing a food scarcity due to a severe drought.

The western states of the nation were enveloped by a megadrought.

Lake Powell is a large reservoir on the Utah-Arizona border, according to Sky News. Because of a megadrought brought on by climate change, its water level is at an all-time low. The renowned boating vacation and watersports location is managed by the National Park Service. Because of the low levels, it has prohibited individuals from releasing houseboats into the lake. People come to the lake expecting to participate in water activities such as kayaking or paddleboarding, but many are disappointed. Bill Diak is the mayor of Page, a lakeside town with a thriving tourist industry. “We should have been a little bit more proactive on planning,” he added, “but we’re going in the right way now working together.” Climate change, he warned, should not be ignored.

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Lake Powell, a man-made reservoir in the southwest corner of the United States, is a classic example of drought in the west. The lake, formed by the Glen Canyon Dam on the Colorado River, was formed in the 1960s by the flooding of the Glen Canyon and was originally known as Lake Mead. In 2015, Lake Powell was nearly dried up after the Colorado River Basin suffered from its worst drought in history, and Lake Mead dropped to its lowest level ever. “Less than a year into 2016, Lake Powell is down to its lowest levels in recorded history,” according to USA Today. That means less water in the lake, and the low water levels are leaving the lake’s banks unnaturally dry.. Read more about u.s. drought monitor and let us know what you think.

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