Video of Water Release from Lake Powell Viewed More Than 100k Times

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A video of the water launch from Lake Powell has been seen greater than 100,000 instances.

The footage, posted to Twitter and different social media channels by Las Vegas Regionally, reveals a surge of water being launched from the Colorado River reservoir.

As of April 26, it had surpassed 389,000 views on Twitter.

“The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation has begun releasing water from Lake Powell as a way to create a water surge that travels by means of the Grand Canyon — serving to to revive sandbars and seashores — earlier than arriving in Lake Mead tomorrow,” the twitter put up mentioned.

The water launch is a part of a plan from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to launch a a lot larger quantity of water by means of Lake Powell’s Glen Canyon Dam between April 24 and 27. Throughout this time, as much as 39,500 cubic toes per second of water might be launched from the reservoir.

From there, the water will circulation by means of the Grand Canyon and replenish sandbars and seashores.

A file photograph of the Glen Canyon Dam. Extra water than common is being launched from Lake Powell to feed Lake Mead.
Nico Strotmann/Getty

It’ll additionally assist to maneuver sediment downriver, all the best way all the way down to Lake Mead, which lies on the border between Nevada and Arizona. This course of is named a Excessive Movement Experiment. The Bureau undertakes these sporadically, relying on how a lot water is offered.

Lake Powell and Lake Mead have been in hassle lately because of the megadrought gripping the southwestern U.S. Their water ranges have been declining quickly because of the dry situations.

Lake Mead specifically has reached report low ranges over the previous yr and it’s in nice want of replenishment. In July final yr, the lake reached the bottom level it had ever been, at 1,040 toes. The water ranges have risen barely since then, nevertheless it nonetheless stays at solely 30 p.c of its common capability.

As of April 26, Lake Mead’s water ranges have been at 1,047.08 toes.

The Bureau is probably going initiating the Excessive Movement Experiment because of the report quantity of rain and snow the southwest has seen in current months.

The moist climate has meant that snowpack is at extraordinarily excessive ranges. This implies there may be extra water out there than there was often been in the course of the drought.

Excessive Movement Experiments are solely undertaken when there may be sufficient water to launch.

Lake Powell and Lake Mead are fashioned by the Glen Canyon and Hoover Dams. They each produce hydropower for the encompassing communities. Lake Mead supplies water for 25 million individuals within the Colorado River basin states.

Because of this specialists have gotten so involved with the dwindling water ranges.

The Bureau of Reclamation has initiated a number of proposals on tips on how to preserve water.

Earlier in April, the U.S. Inside Division’s Bureau of Reclamation introduced a plan to forestall the whole collapse of the Colorado River. This included plans on tips on how to preserve water for the reservoirs.

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