Due to prolonged drought conditions in the Upper Colorado River Basin, Lake Powell's water surface elevation declined steadily from 1988 to an early 1993 level approximately 27 m below the full pool level of 1130 m above MSL, resulting in a 60% reduction in reservoir storage. Associated with this drawdown was the exposure and resuspension of over 100 channel kilometers of deltaic deposits in the combined major tributary arms of the reservoir. This resuspension process maybe a significant source of nutrient and trace element loading to the reservoir due to the release of substances associated with these sediments. This may have implications to productivity processes and bioaccumulation of heavy metals in the aquatic ecosystem.