Federal authorities are reporting a toxic algae blooms in Lake Powell, the nation’s second-largest reservoir.
The algae isn’t likely to harm downstream users that depend on Lake Powell’s water supply. But retired federal water scientist David Wegner says we need to keep a close eye on smaller reservoirs that feed directly into the drinking supply.
"Many of our water treatment plants that take water directly from a surface water source like a reservoir or lake, perhaps they don’t have the facilities to actually clean and ensure that that water supply is adequate for the public," Wegner said.
Wegner says major water agencies in Phoenix, Denver and Los Angeles are stepping up monitoring efforts.
More water news
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Kearny could go dry in July thanks to drought on the Gila River and an old legal agreement. -
The town of Cave Creek in Arizona is on the front lines of the Colorado River crisis. It will get help from Phoenix before working on long-term fixes. -
The Bureau of Reclamation is considering water releases from Flaming Gorge Reservoir to protect Glen Canyon Dam and Lake Powell. -
Gov. Katie Hobbs has vetoed a bill that sought to clip the legal wings of Democratic Attorney General Kris Mayes, with one Republican legislator even calling her a "bully" for how she is pursuing companies over their groundwater pumping. -
Len Necefer’s piece starts with the following sentence: “The storm that killed Phoenix arrived on the evening of July 14, 2027, dragging a wall of dust 3,000 feet high.”
