Lake Powell Might Not Be a Lake For Much Longer

Plummeting water levels might put the lake out of commission

The first time I visited Lake Powell was in 2019, just after graduating from college. I journeyed out West with 12 friends to rent a houseboat on the deep blue waters of Glen Canyon. Even in 2019, we were told that the level of the lake was substantially lower than normal.

The water level was so low that maps of the area were no longer accurate. Receding waters had turned would-be islands into peninsulas jutting out of the abyss. Once sandy beaches were now 50 feet from the waterfront, and side canyons were in danger of bottoming out our boat. All of this said, we still had an unforgettable time on the water.

Lake Powell is the second-largest artificial reservoir by total water capacity in the United States. It was originally created by flooding Glen Canyon with the construction of the Glen Canyon Dam. The lake and the surrounding area is a popular vacation spot with over two million visitors per year.

Those certainly aren’t rookie numbers, considering most national parks don't even reach such popularity. Visitors to the lake enjoy house boating, fishing, hiking, rafting, camping, and much more. The main attractor for most is the lake itself.

Even though the water level was low when I visited, I found Lake Powell and the rest of Glen Canyon to be a magical place. There is something surreal about seeing deep blue waters framed by stark red and white sandstone. This might be because I grew up in the midwest, but it was like nothing I had seen before.

While on the lake, there’s a special feeling that comes with being the master of your own destiny. When it came to exploring, we were only limited by the amount of gas in the tank and the time left in the day. Given all of the side canyons and natural structures to explore, it was sometimes hard to choose where to go next.

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