Scientists are increasingly concerned that the West’s ongoing megadrought may not abate for decades, with a new study suggesting the drying trend could be as long-lived as a similar period that occurred 6,000 years ago. Researchers have turned to historical data from Lake Powell in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area — where current water levels are at just one-third of their capacity — to better understand the patterns and drivers of this severe and prolonged drought.
The research indicates that the current drought is not an anomaly but part of a larger, long-term climatic shift, potentially influenced by factors such like reduced snowpack, higher temperatures, and shifting atmospheric patterns. These conditions are leading to increasingly unreliable water supplies, threatening both ecosystems and human populations reliant on the region’s rivers and reservoirs.
Experts warn that the implications of such a deep and enduring drought extend beyond ecological impacts, with potential consequences for agriculture, energy production, and water management policies. As the West grapples with these challenges, the study underscores the urgent need for adaptive strategies to mitigate the long-term effects of this prolonged dry spell.