The drought stricken reservoirs of the southwest have seen a dramatic change this summer period.
During the winter and early spiring period, the southwest was battered by an onslaught of heavy snow and rain storms. This accumulated a high level of snowpack in the surrounding mountains.
This means as the weather warmed, and the snow melted, the reservoirs were fed with much needed water.
Lake Mead—the U.S. largest man-made reservoir between Arizona and Nevada—saw a sharp increase in water levels at the beginning of summer on June 21. On June 21, levels stood at 1055.66 feet. Now, with a month of summer left to go, levels stand at 1,064.14 feet.
At the start of this year, the reservoir was at a mere 1044 feet.
Lake Powell, Lake Mead's neighbor, also saw a sharp include this summer. Like Lake Mead, its water levels began to steadily climb in May, and at the beginning of summer, stood at 3579 feet. It reached a high point in July, at 3,584 feet, before starting to decline gradually again. It now stands at 3,575.85 feet.
California's reservoirs also saw the affects of the higher than average snowpack. Lake Shasta, the largest reservoir in the state, is at near full capacity. This marks a stark difference from the beginning of the year, when the lake stood at only 928 feet. It is now at 1,033.10 feet.
This summer period so far has also seen intense rains across the region from Storm Hilary, which battered California in recent days.
The storm hit California on Sunday last week, where it caused flooding in major cities like Los Angeles and other areas. Seeing as the West has suffered from intense drought, many questioned whether the storm would help replenish the region's reservoirs, which have been declining in recent years.
However it does not appear to have made much difference to the reservoirs.
Before the storm hit the region, Lake Mead's water levels stood at 1,063.49 feet. On August 20, water levels rose to 1,063.62 feet. On August 21, the second day of the storm, the lake's water levels were at 1,063.78 feet, rising to 1,064 feet the next day.
Lake Powell also did not not appear to be affected by the storm.
Climate change has meant that intense periods of drought, followed by intense rain, have become more commonplace in the southwest. The southwest saw an intense wet period this past winter and early spring. Rain and snow storms battered the area, and in doing so, accumulated record levels of snowpack in the surrounding mountains.
Experts remain poised to keep watch on the situation, as the reservoirs provide water to millions of people in the southwest. Lake Mead, in particular, provides water for around 25 million people in the Colorado River basin.
About the writer
Robyn White is a Newsweek Nature Reporter based in London, UK. Her focus is reporting on wildlife, science and the ... Read more
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