Overview
Lake Powell is the second-largest U.S. reservoir by capacity, spanning Utah and Arizona behind Glen Canyon Dam on the Colorado River. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation operates the Colorado River Storage Project dam; when full near 3,700 feet, the lake covers on the order of 160,000 acres within Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Glen Canyon Dam stands 710 feet high and stores more water than the rest of the initial CRSP units combined.
Full-pool shoreline is about 1,960 miles, with depth near 560 feet at the dam and scores of side canyons. Usable surface area shrinks dramatically in drought. Side canyons such as those near Bullfrog and Wahweap become primary cruising grounds when the main channel is low.
Houseboating and fishing for striped and smallmouth bass draw visitors; Utah and Arizona agencies manage fisheries with NPS recreation administration. Bullfrog, Halls Crossing, and other Utah-side marinas are primary access points for Utah visitors. Utah-side marinas at Bullfrog and Halls Crossing are critical when Arizona-side ramps are limited by elevation.
Reclamation manages levels for Upper Basin storage, hydropower, and deliveries toward Lake Mead. Full pool is about 3,700 feet above mean sea level - monitor current lake levels for marina and canyon access. Compact storage accounting with Lake Mead makes Powell elevations a national Colorado River management signal.
Current Conditions
Lake Powell is currently 180.35 feet below full pool and has been falling over the past week.
- 7-day trendFallingLatest movement can differ from the seven-day trend.
- 7-day changeDown 1.07 ft
- 30-day changeDown 3.88 ft
- Drought conditionsSevere Drought
About This Lake
Learn how this lake is managed, what affects its water level, and where Lake Insights gets its data.
Lake Powell is a 161,390-acre reservoir on the Colorado River managed by U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (Upper Colorado Basin), Colorado River Storage Project.