Fill Mead First - Lake Powell Water Transfer and Glen Canyon Dam Reengineering

planned

The 'Fill Mead First' plan proposes to send water currently stored in Lake Powell downstream to Lake Mead, effectively retiring Lake Powell as the primary storage reservoir. The plan involves drawing down Lake Powell in stages, exposing parts of Glen Canyon, and eventually constructing diversion tunnels around Glen Canyon Dam to allow the Colorado River to flow freely through Glen Canyon while routing water downstream. Lake Powell would serve as a backup reservoir during wetter years, concentrating long-term storage in Lake Mead.