Great Salt Lake, Utah
Great Salt Lake has reached the new historic low according to USGS. GSL has been declining for some time; current drought has accelerated its fall. The previous record was set in 1963 at 4191.4. USGS maintains records back to 1847. With even dryer conditions on the horizon, it’s safe to say the Great Salt Lake could dry up in our lifetime. Salt Lake City locals are unfortunately losing hope.
The water levels at the Great Salt Lake have hit a historic low, a grim milestone for the largest natural lake west of the Mississippi River that comes as a mega drought grips the region. In September, the US Geological Survey announced average daily water levels had dropped about an inch below the previous record of 4,191.4ft (1,278 meters) above sea level, which was set in 1963.
Arsenic-Laced Dust From Drought-Ridden Great Salt Lake a Risk as Water Level Drops. As water levels at the Great Salt Lake reach a historic low, concerns about arsenic-lake dust from the lake bed are mounting due to its potential to further disrupt the area’s ecosystem and disperse into the air people breathe.
The lake is shallow, reaching a maximum depth of about 35 feet, meaning less water can quickly result in a drop in water level. As water levels fall, the exposed lakebed could release arsenic-laced dust into the air that millions of residents breathe.
Other Utah Reservoirs
Utah’s reservoirs have fallen to 52% capacity in the face of a historic drought. Pineview is now less than a quarter full as seen on Thursday, Aug. 12, 2021, and is expected to keep dropping.
The Division of Water Resources says the state’s reservoir storage dropped from 61% last week to 59%. 26 of Utah’s largest 42 reservoirs are below 55% of available capacity and one major reservoir near Manti is now completely dry.
Gunnison Reservoir in Sanpete County has completely dried up.
Nine others reservoirs are below 30 percent capacity and 26 are below 55 percent.
Yuba Reservoir water level is at 9% capacity. In July it was at 19%.
Rockport Reservoir, Utah
Dire drought conditions have revealed a rare piece of Utah history in the small town of Rockport. The reservoir was put in over the old town. That includes Rockport Reservoir in Summit County where parts of pioneer-era buildings have started to resurface. Typically, in a bad year, you might see water levels like this in October, but of course, it’s still July. Because of those low levels, you can now see the foundation of one old building that usually stays underwater.
Lake Oroville, California
Lake Oroville’s hydroelectric power station was force to shut down in 2021 and the water level has continued to drop.
Lake Shasta, California
Lake Shasta was down to 29% capacity as of September 2021.
Lake Meade, Nevada
Lake Meade is currently 35% full. Scientists don’t think it will ever fill up to capacity again. Once the water drops to a certain level, the water will become stagnant and begin to smell. In October 2021 media outlets reported that Lake Meade will reach dead pool level by 2025. In March 2022, media outlets announced that dead pool will be reached by 2023. By April 2022, some outlets are predicting it to be in dead pool by September 2022.
Lake Powell, Utah
Lake Powell is currently 29% full. Scientists also don’t think it will ever fill up to capacity again. The water used to be where we were parked in the car. As of October 2021 the water is at the same level as it was in 1970 when the lake was filling up. By February 2022, the water was 200 feet further out from the shore. By April it was about 300 feet from the shore. This is all real and not a sci-fi cartoon series or a doomsday fiction movie.
Where the grey car was parked in October 2021.
Boat ramp that was put in place in 1969 when Lake Powel was filling up. This photo was taken in October 2021. By February 2022, the water was 200 feet further out.
In this photo (hard to see) the water used to be up to the top of the concrete ramp. In October 2021, we parked the car on the bottom of the asphalt parking lot. About 50 yards out in the water, there was a breakwater made form old tires. By April 2022, the water is about 100 yards out from where we parked the car in October 2021 and the tires are about 50 feet up out of the water.