Lake Powell's water levels are declining due to the megadrought, and smallmouth bass are taking advantage.
An invasive fish species could begin swarming more areas of the Colorado River, officials have warned.
In a report released in February by the Bureau of Reclamation, concerns are raised that smallmouth bass—an invasive species established in Colorado River reservoir Lake Powell—could escape into other reaches of the river, below the dam. Lake Powell, formed by the Glen Canyon Dam, is seeing some of its lowest water levels ever. Officials are concerned that the low water levels will cause the smallmouth bass to escape past the dam, which has so far served as a barrier for the fish. When water levels are high, the report said it prevents the fish passing through.The invasive species has been affecting the Colorado River ecosystem for the last 20 years, the National Park Service reports.
An abandoned boat sits on the banks of Lake Powell on March 28, 2022 in Page, Arizona. As severe drought grips parts of the Western United States, water levels at Lake Powell have dropped to their lowest level since the lake was created by damming the Colorado River in 1963. Lake Powell is currently at 25 percent of capacity, a historic low, and has also lost at least 7 percent of its total capacity.
Of particular concern is the humpback chub—a threatened fish native to the Colorado River that is federally protected. Smallmouth bass have been feasting on them, while biologists attempt to recover the species.
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