U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to Move Up to 1 Million Acre-Feet from Flaming Gorge to Stabilize Lake Powell Levels

U.S. Bureau of Reclamation announced plans in April 2026 to release water from Flaming Gorge Reservoir and reduce downstream releases from Lake Powell to Lake Mead. The agency will release between 660,000 acre-feet and 1 million acre-feet from Flaming Gorge through April 2027.

48 million acre-feet total. The moves are intended to raise Lake Powell's levels by about 54 feet by 2027. Prolonged drought had reduced Colorado River system storage to about 36 percent capacity as of last month relative to the April 2026 announcement.

Extreme March heat and record-low snowpack worsened Colorado River conditions in 2026. Without intervention, Lake Powell could fall below the minimum power pool level of 3,490 feet by August 2026. Cutting releases from Lake Powell will speed up the drop in Lake Mead’s levels.

The reduction could reduce Hoover Dam’s power-generating capacity by as much as 40 percent as soon as fall 2026. Flaming Gorge Reservoir is located mainly in southwestern Wyoming and partly in northeastern Utah. It is formed by a thin-arch dam on the Green River.

The Colorado River stretches about 1,450 miles, irrigates more than 5 million acres of farmland and supplies water to 40 million people across the West. The river serves seven basin states: Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico in the Upper Basin; Arizona, California, and Nevada in the Lower Basin, as well as Mexico.

The seven basin states have been negotiating new water-sharing agreements to replace those set to expire in 2026.

No consensus has been reached on the new water-sharing agreements as of May 2026. Brandon Gebhart, the Wyoming Water Commissioner, stated that the move could close three of five boat ramps at Flaming Gorge Reservoir. will have significant negative impacts on our water resources, local economies and recreation both this year and for years to come.

It will also impair our ability to respond to poor hydrologic conditions in the future. ” Becky Mitchell, who represents Colorado on the Upper Colorado River Commission, stated, “The Upper Division States are taking unprecedented action to protect critical elevations at Lake Powell in the face of the dire conditions this year.

The significant volume of the release may limit the availability of water to respond in future dry years, and impact flexibility and available resources in the future.

Current projections indicate Flaming Gorge Reservoir could reach approximately 6,006 feet in elevation by October 2026. That elevation would be 34 feet below full pool. John Walrath, Regional Fisheries Biologist for the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, outlined risks to the reservoir’s kokanee salmon fishery.

Natural kokanee reproduction contributes about 40-80 percent of each year's class at Flaming Gorge Reservoir depending on conditions. Drawdowns of more than 10 feet during the kokanee spawning and incubation period can reduce production by about 20 percent. Walrath noted that kokanee spawn along shorelines in October, with eggs overwintering until April.

The projected October 2026 elevation of 6,006 feet coincides with the start of spawning. Much of the available shoreline gravel at that level may contain higher levels of fine sediment and may not provide high-quality spawning habitat.