Lake Powell Water Level Today: 3,517.58 ft, 22% Full | Minimum Power Pool
Lake Powell is 3,517.58 feet, 22% full, with 5,127,500 acre-feet stored and down 0.29 ft over 7 days. Includes minimum power pool status, Glen Canyon Dam release context, and Lake Mead comparison.
This page tracks Lake Powell elevation, storage, percent full, recent movement,
and source information for readers checking current water conditions.
Lake Powell is currently at 3,517.58 feet,
22% full, with
5,127,500 acre-feet stored, down 0.29 feet over the last 7 days.
Latest reading: 2026-09-07.
Lake Powell reference levels
- Watch Line: 57.42 feet below 3,575 feet.
- Critical Concern: 7.42 feet below 3,525 feet.
- Minimum Power Pool: 27.58 feet above 3,490 feet.
- Dead Pool: 147.58 feet above 3,370 feet.
Lake Powell minimum power pool status
Lake Powell is 27.58 feet above the 3,490-foot minimum power pool reference at Glen Canyon Dam.
- Minimum power pool: 27.58 feet above 3,490 feet.
- Critical concern line: 7.42 feet below 3,525 feet.
- Watch line: 57.42 feet below 3,575 feet.
That buffer matters because Powell elevation affects hydropower operating room and release flexibility at Glen Canyon Dam.
Lake Powell and Lake Mead water levels
Lake Powell is the upstream operating reservoir behind Glen Canyon Dam. Releases from Powell help shape Lake Mead storage downstream, so Powell is best read alongside Mead rather than as an isolated water-level number.
- Lake Powell storage: 5,127,500 acre-feet.
- Lake Mead storage: 6,904,200 acre-feet.
- Combined Powell and Mead storage: 12,031,700 acre-feet.
Check Lake Mead water level today or view Powell inflow and release history.
Lake Powell historical position
The lowest point in the available West Water Watch history is 3,517.58 feet on 2026-09-07. Today's reading is 0.00 feet above that mark.
Related Lake Powell water level checks
Lake Powell water level today
What is the Lake Powell water level today?
Lake Powell is currently at 3,517.58 feet, with 5,127,500 acre-feet stored.
How full is Lake Powell?
Lake Powell is 22% full based on the latest storage snapshot.
Is Lake Powell rising or falling?
Lake Powell is falling, down 0.29 feet over the last 7 days.
When was Lake Powell last updated?
Lake Powell's latest reading is dated 2026-09-07 from USBR RISE API.
How far is Lake Powell above minimum power pool?
Lake Powell is 27.58 feet above the 3,490-foot minimum power pool reference.
Why does Glen Canyon Dam matter for Lake Powell water level?
Lake Powell sits behind Glen Canyon Dam, so elevation affects hydropower buffer, release flexibility, and how much water can move downstream toward Lake Mead.
Is Lake Powell rising or falling?
Lake Powell is falling 0.29 feet over the 7-day window.
Lake Powell is falling 3.54 feet over the 30-day window.
Why Lake Powell minimum power pool matters
Lake Powell stores Upper Basin water behind Glen Canyon Dam and helps regulate releases toward Lake Mead. Its elevation is especially important near minimum power pool, where a declining water surface reduces the operating buffer for hydropower and release flexibility.
Read the current elevation against the 3,575-foot watch line, the 3,525-foot critical-concern reference, and the 3,490-foot minimum power pool. Then pair that buffer with Powell inflow, Glen Canyon Dam releases, and storage change at Lake Mead.
What to watch at Lake Powell
- Buffer above minimum power pool
- Glen Canyon Dam release context
- Storage change alongside Lake Mead
Current Lake Powell conditions
- Latest reading
- 2026-09-07
- Current elevation
- 3,517.58 feet
- Current storage
- 5,127,500 acre-feet
- Percent full
- 22% full
- Seven-day elevation change
- -0.29 feet
- Thirty-day storage change
- -196,750 acre-feet
- Source
- USBR RISE API
- Source updated
- 2026-09-08
- Current water level and storage snapshot
- Recent elevation trend and seven-day movement
- Percent full and source context for Upper Basin