The Colorado River basin is a critical system for residents in the western U.S.August 7, 2026, 9:58 AMThe water level at Lake Mead, the nation's largest reservoir by storage capacity, hit a record low on Thursday.Lake Mead’s pool elevation hit the new low on Thursday at 1,040.50 feet, breaking the previous record of 1,040.58 feet set in July 2022, according to data published by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation on Friday.Prolonged drought conditions and exceptionally low snowpack have contributed to the significant declines in water levels at several Colorado River Basin reservoirs this year.Popular ReadsThe Colorado River basin is a critical system for residents in the western U.S. and Mexico. The basin provides water for up to 40 million people and hydropower to the seven basin states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming, according to the Bureau of Reclamation.This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.Popular Reads