The amount of water released through Glen Canyon Dam at Lake Powell is set to hit historic lows this year.
That could cause power generation troubles downstream at Hoover Dam.
The Arizona Farm Bureau says that the Glen Canyon Dam cuts could cause Lake Mead’s water levels to drop below 1,035 feet by the fall.
When water levels drop that low, turbines could experience something called cavitation, where bubbles form and collapse rapidly on the turbine blades, causing significant damage.
The Bureau of Reclamation plans to shut down older turbines that aren’t able to handle such low water levels. Overall, 12 of the 17 turbines could be cut off by the fall.
Just about 20% of Hoover Dam’s power goes to Arizona, so the lower generation could cause energy prices to go up.
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Warmer water in rivers and streams may have big consequences for those waterways, as well as the ecosystems around them. -
Water users from Arizona and beyond are calling on Congress for big spending that could help the region cope with drought. -
A Maricopa County judge won’t pause a lawsuit filed by Attorney General Kris Mayes against Fondomonte, the Saudi Arabian farming company she accused of overpumping groundwater in La Paz County. -
Amid megadrought, extreme heat and facing even more cutbacks to water supply, modern farming and agriculture have had to make major adjustments. -
A West Valley advocacy group will be hosting an economic development summit on Thursday. This year’s gathering put on by Westmarc will focus on sustainable growth in the West Valley, and includes panels featuring business and elected officials.
