Area locals and lake fans cast hawkish eyes year round on the cyclical rising and dropping of Lake Powell water levels. Snow pack measurements and predictions for the river and basin drainages that feed the lake are carefully tracked.
…from near flooding…
A triumphant cheer went up in 1980 when Lake Powell filled to capacity for the first time since Glen Canyon Dam impounded the lake. And, while there was due alarm, there was also a certain note of pride when makeshift plywood barriers had to be slapped atop the dam in 1983 because flooding threatened that year. Lake Powell water levels rose so high the dam’s concrete spillways had to be opened to release some of the rising water. Subsequently, those spillways were shredded by the forces of water beyond their ability to handle them.
NASA satellites have been recording lake imagery since 1999. Relatively high water levels marked the inaugural pictures, the dark blue water indicating clearness.
…to drought…Lake Powell levels plummet…
A year later, the tide was turning. The Colorado River’s greenish brown color meant increasing sediment was present. A finger of the changing hue extended into Lake Powell.
While less sediment was visible in the spring of 2001, lake levels continued to recede for several years, plummeting in 2005. Where the lake held 20 million acre feet of water in 2000, the amount was a comparatively paltry 5.8 million acre feet five years later.
A slight recovery was made in 2006 although the water remained a muddy brown. 2007 witnessed another rise, but a drop was recorded in 2008 before a significant rebound in spring 2009.
Notwithstanding the apparent good news, the United States National Research Council projects even more severe drought conditions in the years ahead.
In late August 2009, Lake Powell topped out for the year at 3,638 feet above sea level, 62 feet below full pool.
…When is the best time to visit Lake Powell?...
Lake Powell water temperature averages range from a low of 46 degrees in February to a high of 80 in August.
September and October are considered ideal times to visit the lake. Air temperatures are moderating, the water is still warm, and the crowds have dispersed somewhat with the advent of fall school schedules.
Spring can be highly unpredictable, and a cold snap in March is not uncommon. Spring months tend to be windy, and Lake Powell water temperatures are too cool for swimming.
…How hot is it during the summer months at Lake Powell?...
Average air temperatures are 82 degrees, 90, 97, 94, and 88 for May, June, July, August, and September, respectively. Overnight lows range from 53 to 69 degrees from May through August.