Possible human remains have been discovered in Lake Powell, Utah, by a group on a houseboat, officials confirmed. The Kane County Sheriff’s Dispatch was notified on Friday, August 14, about the discovery in Kane County.
Investigators from the Kane County Sheriff's Office, along with National Park Service rangers, responded to the scene and collected the remains. The remains have been transported to the Utah State Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy and identification.
The Kane County Sheriff's Office stated that the case remains under investigation as authorities work to identify the individual and provide closure to the family.
This discovery follows another finding of possible human remains at Lake Mead, near Las Vegas, on August 16. Lake Mead, the nation's largest man-made reservoir, has experienced unprecedented low water levels due to drought conditions and climate change. These receding waters have previously revealed sets of human remains, including a body in a barrel that is believed by many to be connected to a decades-old mob hit.
Lake Powell is situated primarily in southern Utah, with a small section extending into northern Arizona. In July 2026, the combined water levels of Lake Mead and Lake Powell fell to their lowest point since 1957, prompting the U.S. Department of the Interior to mandate a 20% reduction in water usage for Arizona, California, and Nevada over the following two years.