URC Coalition Report shows Antiquated Plumbing in Glen Canyon Dam Could Cripple Western Water Supplies

The Utah Rivers Council and its non-profit partners released a new report on how archaic engineering inside Glen Canyon Dam is creating a serious water supply crisis for the entire Colorado River Basin.

Antique Plumbing and Leadership Postponed details how the archaic plumbing in the dam is becoming a barrier for Upper Basin States to deliver water to the Lower Basin, further reducing flows to the Grand Canyon and threatening its aquatic ecosystems.

Lake Powell water levels are on the cusp of dropping below the minimum elevation necessary to generate electricity through its hydropower turbines, due to a 20-year mega drought and a warming climate. The most serious problem however, is not about hydropower. 

The plumbing system inside Glen Canyon Dam was designed in the 1950’s and isn’t capable of delivering enough water to the populous states of California, Nevada and Arizona through the Grand Canyon once water levels begin to drop below 3,490 feet above sea level, just 45 feet above current water levels.

Once water levels behind Glen Canyon Dam drop below the hydropower turbines, a lower set of water tubes must be used to deliver water downstream to the Grand Canyon. The lower set of tubes, known as the River Outlet Works, are limited in the amount of water they can release downstream. As reservoir levels drop further, the amount of water flowing out of Glen Canyon Dam is reduced until the dam becomes a barrier to satisfying minimum water delivery obligations to the three Lower Basin states and the Grand Canyon.

This will result in Arizona, California and Nevada’s water supply from the Colorado River being cut drastically, creating a water supply crisis for 30 million people living downstream. It also means flows to the Grand Canyon will be reduced, jeopardizing the habitat of 596 species of birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians.

The URC is urging immediate funding from Congress to retrofit Glen Canyon Dam's plumbing to allow water delivery obligations to be met on a long-term basis. This work must begin immediately to avoid a water delivery crisis.