Changing Lake Levels

 

Left image
Lone Rock surrounded by campers and vehicles parked in the sand amidst a superbloom of desert evening primrose on April 29, 2023. Lake elevation 3524.50'.
Credit: NPS

Right image
June 21, 2023. Lone Rock is once again a beach, surrounded by water and some vehicles parked on the beach to the right. Lake elevation 3579.22'.
Credit: NPS

 

Glen Canyon is home to dynamic and constantly changing landscape.

Since 2001, declining water levels due to climate change and 20 years of drought have reshaped Lake Powell’s shoreline. Today we are experiencing low lake levels and their effects on boat ramp access points, on-lake facilities, and the landscape.

• Significant changes to the shoreline will affect usability of boat launch ramps throughout the year, especially in warmer months. We ask visitors to plan ahead and prepare for longer lines, limited parking and congestion at boat ramps and docks. To relieve launch ramp congestion, please ready your boat at a nearby parking lot before driving to launch ramps. View the current status of your preferred launch destination before heading to the lake.
• On Lake Powell, boaters should be aware that as water levels change, channels may narrow leading to increased boat congestion. Boaters should exercise caution in all areas of Lake Powell. Availability of restrooms, floating walkways, pump out, fuel and convenient stations may vary. View the current status of on-lake facilities below.

There are many new places to explore as water levels change, and the scenic shoreline is always evolving. Check current lake levels to plan ahead and prepare for your visit to Glen Canyon. Learn more about boating safety and make every trip to Lake Powell a safe and enjoyable one.

For real time lake level information, view the Bureau of Reclamation's Upper Colorado River HydroData. To learn more about the Upper Colorado River Basin and the operations of Glen Canyon Dam, including the 24-month predictions, visit the Bureau of Reclamation's website.

Lake Powell Current Water Level

 

Lake Powell Elevation (12/11/2024)

3574.05 ft

 

Lake Level Effects to Launch Ramps and Services

Location	Availability			More Information
		Houseboats	Small Motorized Vessels		Non-motorized Vessels
Wahweap Main Launch Ramp	Available	Available	Unavailable	Open to all motorized vessels. Closed to paddlecraft.
Wahweap Auxiliary Launch Ramp	Inoperable	Inoperable	Inoperable	Ramp closed to all vessels.
Wahweap Stateline Launch Ramp	Inoperable	Inoperable	Launch at own risk	Ramp closed to launch/retrieval of motorized vessels. Drive halfway down the ramp to access the Stateline Auxiliary Ramp. Open to paddlecraft only.
Wahweap Stateline Auxiliary Launch Ramp	Available	Available	Unavailable	Open to motorized vessels. Prepare all boats in the Stateline Main Ramp parking lot before accessing the auxiliary ramp.
Castle Rock Cut	Navigate at your own risk	Navigate at your own risk	Navigate at your own risk	Navigable for all vessels at elevation 3583' and above.
Antelope Point Public Launch Ramp	Inoperable	Inoperable	Available	Public Ramp closed to motorized vessels. Available for paddlecraft launching only. Extension not possible due to topography. Switchback in place to remedy steepness of access to the marina.
Antelope Point Business Ramp	Available	Available	Available	This ramp is open for all vessels, including houseboats. Interested customers should contact Antelope Point Valet Services to inquire about their specific vessel(s), 928 645-5900 ext. 5032.
Halls Crossing Launch Ramp	Available	Available	Available	Open to all vessels.
UDOT Ferry and Launch Ramps	Inoperable	Inoperable	Inoperable	Ramps closed. More information regarding the Lake Powell Ferry provided by UDOT.
Bullfrog North Launch Ramp	Available	Available	Available	Open to all vessels. View flow of traffic and area map. A courtesy dock is available at the ramp.
Bullfrog Main Launch Ramp	Inoperable	Inoperable	Launch at own risk	Open to all vessels when lake level is over 3578'. Prepare your boats at the Bullfrog Visitor Center parking lot and the Old Marina Store asphalt parking lot.
Bullfrog Main Launch Ramp Spur	Inoperable	Launch at own risk	Launch at own risk	Open to all vessels up to 25ft.
Stanton Creek Primitive Area	Inoperable	Inoperable	Launch at own risk	Primitive rock and sand beach. Launch area is inoperable. Launch at your own risk
Hite Ramp	Inoperable	Inoperable	Unavailable	Hite Launch Ramp out of water. Lake Powell does not reach Hite at this time. The road to Hite from Hwy 95 is closed.
Rainbow Bridge National Monument	Available	Available	Available	Floating docks, walkways, and restrooms have been re-anchored at the back of the canyon providing access to the Rainbow Bridge trail. Approximately 1.2-mile hike to the observation area at the bridge. Concession operated boat tours may be available. Hiking permits around Navajo Mountain from Navajo Parks & Recreation.

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Lake Powell Water Access Update from the Superintendent December 2024

As we close out another year at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (Glen Canyon) and begin our planning for the New Year to come, I want to pause and thank each of you for your dedication to this park. We enjoy the benefit of having so many partners to work with throughout the year. Operating a unit of the National Park Service in these times truly does take a village.  

Many of you invest your valuable time to volunteer in a multitude of ways, ranging from trash clean ups to orchard monitoring, campground hosts and graffiti removal. Your contributions extend our efforts ten-fold.  

Soon, volunteers will gather to collect data for the annual Christmas Bird counts. This is just another example of how the community contributes to the work we do in protecting this resource. 

Our team at Glen Canyon has been nationally recognized for the work that they have contributed to the recent Hurricane events on the east coast. We could not be prouder of their contributions to our agency and their support to severely impacted communities. 

While there may be changes ahead for the leadership in our agency, the work on the ground at Glen Canyon continues. In 2025, our team will be focused on the many projects and initiatives we have well underway. We will continue sharing with you through this newsletter. 

I want to extend my warmest holiday wishes from the team at Glen Canyon to you our loyal stewards.   

Sincerely, 
Michelle 

Bullfrog Launch Ramps

One of our first larger projects planned in this location was a project for a low boat ramp at Bullfrog Stanton Creek. The Bullfrog Stanton Creek location offers lower elevation ramp possibilities. With the updated Bureau of Reclamation target elevation commitment for Lake Powell at an elevation of 3525 and existing Bullfrog ramps already providing access as low as 3519, an investment in that Bullfrog Stanton Creek ramp is not as urgent currently. The design and costing work we have done with that project may still be useful in the future so it is an option we have in our back pocket for lower water levels should they be forecasted again. We have not stopped evaluating and pursuing federal and state grant opportunities (in collaboration with the state of Utah) to resume ferry access in this area. 

December 2024 no update.

Antelope Point Public Ramp

This ramp is currently open to paddlecraft only. Planning and design continues for a construction project which would extend this ramp to enable public water access for a variety of user groups. The Park is working with the Navajo Nation to determine the preferred design option. The contractor will finalize this work into a report for the park to move the project to schematic design next. The park received FY 23 disaster supplemental funding for this project. This funding will cover design to construction of this project.    

December 2024: We are moving forward on the planning for this project. Once completed the new ramp will have the potential for lake access at water level as low as 3520 ft (above sea level).

Hite / Colorado River Takeout

The NPS (Glen Canyon NRA and Canyonlands National Park), the economy of Utah, and the river rafting community are affected by the need for a sustainable takeout ramp at Hite for Colorado River trips in Cataract Canyon.

Glen Canyon secured FY 23 Disaster Supplemental Funding to rapidly advance the planning and design for a new river takeout ramp that will be more sustainable long-term. This will fund a design build contract for this project, restoring access to the river at Hite. NPS had previously undertaken hydrology assessments that have identified feasible recommended locations.

The location selected for this new ramp is on the south side of the Colorado River, just west of the bridge at Hite. We are moving quickly to obtain schematic designs and begin our environmental assessment process. A design build contract, which culminates in construction, will then be announced by our project managers at Denver Service Center. We don’t have solid dates for construction start and completion at this time. Once we have schematic designs, the NPS will begin the environmental and cultural compliance process. That National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process will inform our contracting timelines for a design build contractor. We will share updates as they become known and after we have the schematic design for the ramp. We appreciate your interest and look forward to working with all interested and affected parties on this.

September 2024: Hydrogeologic surveys conducted this summer are indicating that the design will need to be adjusted to ensure the long-term sustainability for this river access project. These findings do not affect the preferred location.

December 2024: Cultural site surveys have been conducted and we are awaiting final report of findings to further refine the specific area of roadway design for construction.

Midlake Fuel Station

We know how important mid-lake fuel is, and NPS has been working hard to find an alternative way to provide mid-lake fuel to boaters. We are planning a mid-lake fuel service station that will be operational at low water and not dependent on support systems from a fixed, land-based station. Congress authorized funding support for this alternative fuel station in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 budget appropriation in a Disaster Supplemental. A contract was awarded to a marine engineering firm (Stantec) to provide a design for this new infrastructure. A Stantec team did field work to survey and develop design concepts for this replacement infrastructure. When we have those design concepts, we’ll begin the evaluation process and engage our affected communities and stakeholders to ensure we construct a long-lasting mid-lake fueling station that will serve us well in the future.
 
We thank you all for the passion you have for Lake Powell. We will continue to update our dedicated community of boaters on the timing and development of these projects.

September 2024: Input has been collected from the concessioner for design considerations. Predesign and location determinations are in progress.

December 2024: A value analysis workshop was conducted in November that resulted in our best approach and options to move forward with final design.

Rainbow Bridge

We are moving forward with long-term planning for access infrastructure that will have features and functionality that will support water visitation to Rainbow Bridge National Monument at lower water elevations. On August 8, 2023, the NPS Denver Service Center issued a solicitation for architect and engineering services to relocate and rehabilitate the Rainbow Bridge floating walkways and anchor system.

No update December 2024.

Wahweap Investments

The Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) utility rehabilitation of Wahweap and Lone Rock is solicitating for abbreviated proposal design and build qualifications from contractors for the wastewater rehabilitation phase.

The qualification proposals were due by September 17. Once the phase one qualifications have been evaluated for competencies, the qualified contactors will submit detailed proposals for execution.

December 2024: The contractor qualification proposals are currently under review for phase one of this project (wastewater).
The water supply investigation is ongoing for the most sustainable and cleanest drinking water well source available in the Wahweap area.

 

 

 

Recreate Safely at Lake Powell

• 

  Lake Recreational Water Advisory

  Take care of yourself when you recreate on the beaches or in the waters of Lake Powell.

• 

  Boating

  Lake Powell is a premier location for boating opportunities, whether in a luxury houseboat or small fishing skiff.

• 

  Houseboat Staking

  How should I properly anchor my houseboat on Lake Powell? Why can't I use stakes?