Officials have started reducing water release from Lake Powell to prevent water levels from becoming too low for hydroelectric production.
Water flow into Lake Powell will hit record lows this summer, reports Andrew Hay for Reuters. The Rocky Mountains saw their lowest snowpacks ever recorded this winter.
"A March heatwave prematurely melted what snow fell during a warm, dry winter, leading to April through July Colorado River flows into Powell that will be only 13% of average, according to the Colorado Basin River Forecast Center." This continues a decades-long drought that has been causing aridification and falling stream levels across the southwest.
If reservoir levels drop low enough, hydroelectric dams could stop producing electricity. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation has started to cut water release from Lake Powell to prevent levels from falling too low. "Looking ahead, a forecast strong El Nino weather system could improve flows in the lower basin with heavy summer monsoon rainfall."
Read the full story: Colorado River to hit record low after worst-ever Rockies snowpacks
Colorado River Water Crisis Deepens
The states that rely on the Colorado’s water must make drastic cuts in water usage to maintain use of the West’s most important—and most threatened—water source.
Colorado River States Inch Closer to Agreement
Upper Basin and Lower Basin states each say their plan for conserving the Colorado River’s water is the most sustainable.
Federal Program Provides Direct Payments for Colorado River Water Conservation
A water buyback program will pay farmers who reduce their water use in an effort to sustain the West’s reservoirs, which are at historically low levels.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour
If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.
Chicago breaks ground on $3 billion megadevelopment
The new neighborhood, titled Foundry Park, will one day host 3,700 residences.
California High-Speed Rail Authority CEO resigns after $600,000 scandal
Under Ian Choudri, the authority used taxpayer dollars to fund first class flights and trips to nightclubs.
Want to study the Missouri River? Soon, you may need unanimous approval from 10 states
Legislation would require 10 governors’ permission to study or build projects moving water outside the basin.
Desperate measures: Advocates weigh draining Lake Powell to fill Colorado River
Draining the reservoir could reduce evaporation losses by a couple hundred thousand acre-feet.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
City of Rosemead
Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
City of Cambridge
Montrose County
The Pocatello Development Authority