Scott Dance at The Washington Post reported that Lake Powell is filling more than one foot per day as the epic winter snowpack continues to melt. It is estimated the Lake Powell water level will rise more than 70 feet, good news for some 40 million people dependent on the stored water source. Reality sets in when experts warn that this rise "translates to the lake's stores of water increasing from about 20 percent of its capacity to 30 percent." So the "megadrought's effects will still be felt." Colorado River program managers note "that it would take nearly a decade of wet years to refill Lake Powell." A combination of water overuse and the Southwestern megadrought... is the worst to hit the region in 1200 years." Even with such a robust winter in the west, transformative ideas like IPHROS are needed. IPHROS enables a sustainable water and energy plan and a robust economy.
Source: Scott Dance, Washington Post, May 11, 2023.
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