Lake Powell, Lake Mead Expected to be Only Half Full by September
Fulp presented the projections Friday at the first of three meetings in which representatives from state water agencies and power, tribal and environmental interests compile an annual Colorado River operating plan to be submitted to the Interior Department in September.
Fulp said the National Weather Service is projecting runoff from the snow melt at 72 percent of normal levels in the April to July period. Forecasts for the "water year" of October to September call for similar levels.
The numbers are down from last year, when water levels rose after five years of record drought and flows came in above normal. Officials caution one good year doesn't end a drought.
"My answer when people ask, 'Is the drought over?' is 'We still don't know,'" Fulp said. "We had a better year last year, but then again we've had a sub par year this year. We don't know where we are in the drought sequence."
Fulp said the projected levels will not likely force changes in the river's management plan because there is still enough water in storage. The system is at 59 percent of capacity, and is expected to fall to 58 percent by the end of September.
Officials predicted a slight increase in the water level at Lake Powell by the end of the water year and slight decreases for the system's other major reservoir, Lake Mead. Lake Powell is projected to be 52 percent full in September, Lake Mead is forecast at 54 percent capacity.