In Brief: As COVID-19 keeps people at home, rising electricity needs could force changes at Glen Canyon Dam

Energy demands have increased as the COVID-19 pandemic has pushed people to stay home.  The Arizona Republic reported over the weekend that this could lead to more water flowing from Glen Canyon Dam into the Colorado River in order to meet the need for more electricity.

Normally, flows into the Colorado River fluctuate every year and are generally unnoticeable to people utilizing the river for recreation. In the popular stretch of river between Glen Canyon Dam and Lake Mead, emergency water releases could lead to sudden increases in river flow.

The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, which operates the dam, hasn’t made a decision yet on whether hydropower production will need to be increased, but it is warning people to use caution on the river.

Read more in this story from The Arizona Republic

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