FARMINGTON, N.M. – Recent storms pushed Navajo Lake higher after it dropped to its lowest level since 2004 and came within 14 feet of deadpooling.
Officials in the Four Corners said Navajo Lake fell to just above 6,000 feet three weeks ago after a long stretch of drought.
They said the lake came within 14 feet of deadpooling, the point where water can no longer move into the irrigation system.
“At one point we came up over 16 inches in a single day, which for us is a lot of water,” said Jarrett Johnson, president and owner of the Navajo Lake Marina.
“We’re constantly moving walkways, trying to bring them back up as the water level’s rising. So it’s a it’s welcomed work to have to do to keep up with it. We’re excited,” said Johnson.
Johnson expects the lake to rise another four or five inches before it stabilizes for winter.
He said strong mountain snowpack could bring more runoff and raise the lake further in the spring.
