Lake Powell water level

What this means

Water is short at Lake Powell: the latest reading of 3,519.79 ft is far below normal for mid-October.

The median for mid-October is 3,620.33 ft, based on 36 years of readings, so the lake level is 100.54 ft below typical. On the same day last year the reading was 3,545.49 ft, a difference of −25.70 ft.

It is on the way up, by 0.76 ft over the past week. The 30-day range is 3,516.84 ft – 3,519.79 ft.

Many reservoirs are drawn down through summer and fall; most of the refill comes later, with winter rain or spring snowmelt.

Second-largest reservoir in the United States, formed by Glen Canyon Dam on the Colorado River.

Compared with 36 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels

Key numbers

Median for this date

3,620.33 ft100.54 ft below the median for this date

Normal for this date

3,570.49 ft – 3,685.56 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (36 years of records)

Same day last year

3,545.49 ft−25.70 ft

Lowest and highest in 30 days

3,516.84 ft – 3,519.79 ft

Lowest and highest in 12 months

3,516.62 ft – 3,545.65 ft

Full pool

3,700.00 ft180.21 ft below full pool

Dead pool

3,370.00 ft149.79 ft above dead pool

Capacity

24,321,396 acre‑ft21.6 % of capacity