Lake Powell Gets Priority Over Lake Mead | Las Vegas News

The Department of the Interior just unveiled a bold 10-year plan for the Colorado River that’s flipping the script—prioritizing Lake Powell over Lake Mead. After seven states failed to agree on their own solution and a record dry winter hit, federal officials are now cutting water releases from Powell by 17% to keep Glen Canyon Dam generating power. That means Nevada loses 50,000 acre-feet, California 440,000, and Arizona a staggering 760,000—enough to supply thousands of homes for a year. With less water flowing downstream, Lake Mead is headed for even deeper lows than its already historic 1930s nadir. The plan’s main goal? Keep Powell at a level that ensures dam operations—and it’s reshaping how water shortages are measured. While some see short-term clarity for Nevada, critics warn this sets a dangerous precedent, favoring infrastructure over ecosystems and users as climate change worsens. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/57f00d287a47089e