Federal Hydrologist Warns of Historically Low Colorado River Forecast, Threatening Hydroelectric Power
A federal hydrologist has reported a dire forecast for the Colorado River Basin, predicting historically low water inflows into Lake Powell this summer. Cody Moser from the Colorado Basin River Forecast Center highlighted that only 800,000 acre-feet of water is expected to flow into Lake Powell by July, which is just 13% of its average supply. This would mark the lowest summer inflow in the reservoir's history. The situation is exacerbated by record-low snowpack and a March heat wave, despite a cooler and wetter April. In response, the Interior Department has initiated emergency measures to prevent Lake Powell from dropping to levels that would halt hydroelectric power production. This includes redirecting water from the Flaming Gorge reservoir. Meanwhile, negotiations among the seven states reliant on the river have stalled, with upper and lower basin states at odds over water usage reductions. Recently, Nevada, California, and Arizona proposed conserving an additional one-million acre feet of water annua... 
