Never Before Has the West Experienced Such Low Snow Levels — Experts Warn Lake Powell May Lose Power by December

The snowpack in Colorado has dropped to its all-time low, peaking a month earlier than usual before vanishing — resulting in most Western river basins being below 50% of their historical median snow water equivalent. Lake Powell, one of the largest reservoirs in the United States, could potentially lose its hydropower capacity entirely by December 2026, endangering power and water supplies for seven Western states. An emergency drought declaration has been issued in Washington State, and water managers are already alerting cities, agriculture, and industries that their complete water allocations may not be assured this year.