Lake Powell Might Not Be a Lake For Much Longer
Plummeting water levels might put the lake out of commission
The first time I visited Lake Powell was in 2019, just after graduating from college. I journeyed out West with 12 friends to rent a houseboat on the deep blue waters of Glen Canyon. Even in 2019, we were told that the level of the lake was substantially lower than normal.
The water level was so low that maps of the area were no longer accurate. Receding waters had turned would-be islands into peninsulas jutting out of the abyss. Once sandy beaches were now 50 feet from the waterfront, and side canyons were in danger of bottoming out our boat. All of this said, we still had an unforgettable time on the water.
Lake Powell is the second-largest artificial reservoir by total water capacity in the United States. It was originally created by flooding Glen Canyon with the construction of the Glen Canyon Dam. The lake and the surrounding area is a popular vacation spot with over two million visitors per year.
Those certainly aren’t rookie numbers, considering most national parks don't even reach such popularity. Visitors to the lake enjoy house boating, fishing, hiking, rafting, camping, and much more. The main attractor for most is the lake itself.
