Going up: Water level at Lake Powell rises after recent rainstorms

Lake Powell has seen a sudden rise in water levels following a week of heavy rainstorms across the Four Corners region. The National Weather Service office in Salt Lake City reported Sunday that the reservoir's elevation reached 3,529 feet, roughly 10 feet above the record low of 3,519 feet recorded in August.

The weather service attributed the increase to heavy rain across the area where Utah, Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico meet, noting that river flows remain very high and more water is moving toward the lake. Lake Powell is primarily fed by the Colorado and San Juan rivers.

The recent storms have also caused severe flooding, prompting evacuations and water rescues. In the city of Hurricane, officials declared a state of emergency after floodwater surrounded approximately 80 homes in a neighborhood.

The reservoir, which straddles the Utah-Arizona border, was about 30 feet from the level where turbines would stop generating hydroelectric power as of August. Federal officials and the seven states that rely on the Colorado River continue to negotiate a long-term management plan for the dwindling resource, though climate experts are hopeful a strong El Niño cycle may bring further drought relief.

Sources: Las Vegas Review-Journal