Recent storms brought significant rainfall across Arizona and the Four Corners, raising reservoir levels and increasing river flows. But water experts say the temporary boost does not change the Colorado River Basin’s long-term shortage.
In Arizona, Salt River Project increased releases from Bartlett and Stewart Mountain dams after historic rainfall sent large amounts of runoff into the Salt and Verde river systems. The releases pushed water through normally dry sections of the Salt River near Phoenix and helped create room in reservoirs for additional runoff.
The same storms also caused destructive flooding across Arizona, prompting a statewide emergency declaration.
Groundwater received some benefit from the rain, but recovery will be much slower. KOLD reported that a University of Arizona hydrologist said recent rainfall could help shallow groundwater supplies, while deeper aquifers around Tucson could take decades or even hundreds of years to recover.
Conditions also improved temporarily at Lake Powell. Cowboy State Daily reported that the reservoir gained more than 500,000 acre-feet between Oct. 21 and Oct. 28, raising the lake roughly nine to 10 feet. From its September low through late October, Powell gained about 600,000 acre-feet.
Even with that increase, Lake Powell remained only about 26% full and roughly 174 feet below full pool.
The recent gains also come as federal managers continue releasing water from Flaming Gorge Reservoir to support Lake Powell. Those releases have lowered Flaming Gorge and affected recreation and marina operations in Wyoming.
Aspen Public Radio reported that El Niño storms brought drought relief to parts of the Rocky Mountains while causing damaging floods across the Four Corners. The contrast shows how a single storm system can improve short-term water conditions without reversing the longer drought affecting the Basin.
The Colorado River depends heavily on Upper Basin snowpack and spring runoff, meaning the upcoming winter will remain critical for Lake Powell, Lake Mead, and the larger river system.
What does this mean for CRIT?
The recent rainfall is a positive short-term development, but it does not change the broader Colorado River outlook. The Tribe’s senior water rights remain important, but those rights still depend on the physical condition of the river system. Lake Powell and Lake Mead remain historically low even after recent storms. The Flaming Gorge releases also show how connected the Basin is. Water moved from an upstream reservoir can help support Lake Powell, but it can also create impacts for communities and water users elsewhere. The recent rainfall provides some relief, but sustained snowpack and runoff over multiple years will be needed for meaningful recovery across the Colorado River Basin.
Sources
12News Phoenix: “SRP releases more water from dams after historic rainfall, sending water through normally dry Salt River”
https://www.12news.com/article/weather/severe-weather/srp-releases-more-water-from-dams-after-historic-rainfall-sending-water-through-normally-dry-salt-river/75-b3751871-54a4-4855-8973-a5f7ca9cba62
KOLD News 13 Tucson: “How will this weekend’s rainfall impact Tucson’s groundwater supply?”
https://www.kold.com/video/2026/11/03/how-will-this-weekends-rainfall-impact-tucsons-groundwater-supply/
Aspen Public Radio: “El Niño rains bring drought relief to the Rocky Mountains, destructive floods to the Four Corners”
https://www.aspenpublicradio.org/environment/2026-11-02/el-nino-rains-bring-drought-relief-to-the-rocky-mountains-destructive-floods-to-the-four-corners
Cowboy State Daily: “‘Our Marina Is Gone!’ Lake Powell Surges But Drawdowns Continue At Flaming Gorge”
https://cowboystatedaily.com/2026/11/03/its-crazy-as-lake-powell-surges-flaming-gorge-remains-low-drawdowns-continue/