Community Corner

Drawing Down The Blue Mesa To Help The Dry West

The Blue Mesa is already low because of the poor winter snowpack on the Western Slope, according to the Bureau of Reclamation.

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“These enormous reservoirs, Lake Powell and Lake Mead are now going to be below 30% full by mid next year,” said Brad Udall, senior water and climate research scientist and scholar at CSU.
“These enormous reservoirs, Lake Powell and Lake Mead are now going to be below 30% full by mid next year,” said Brad Udall, senior water and climate research scientist and scholar at CSU. (CBS)

By Alan Gionet, CBS Denver:

GUNNISON, Colo. (CBS4) – Next month, the Bureau of Reclamation will begin a drawdown of Blue Mesa Reservoir near Gunnison. The Blue Mesa is already low because of the poor winter snowpack on the Western Slope.

But it’s in much better shape than Lake Powell in Utah and Arizona. The Bureau says since its pre-drought high in September 1999 at 95% capacity, Lake Powell has dropped more than 145 vertical feet. It’s down 16 million acre feet of water. Fearing there’s not enough to generate electricity at its hydro facilities the bureau is seeking water from upstream.

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