Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleLake Mead, the largest U.S. reservoir, hit a record low of 1,040.5 feet above sea level on Friday, surpassing its previous record set in July 2022. Located on the Arizona-Nevada border, Lake Mead provides drinking water to 20-25 million people and is a crucial part of the Colorado River Basin system, serving 40 million across seven states, tribal communities, and Mexico. The decline is largely due to below-average snowmelt runoff from the Rocky Mountains and a decision to keep more water in Lake Powell, which accelerates Lake Mead's water level drop. Officials warn that the continued decrease could reduce Hoover Dam’s hydropower capacity by up to 40 percent and has already exposed previously submerged shorelines and other items. To address the crisis, Colorado has initiated a program to incentivize water conservation, and a federal plan proposes significant water use reductions for Arizona, California and Nevada. In fullLake Mead water has hit a new low — and there’s little hope of improvement: ‘It’s grim’More bulletinsThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
America’s largest reservoir hits record low as water crisis deepens
Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleLake Mead, the largest U.S. reservoir, hit a record low of 1,040.5 feet above sea level on Friday, surpassing its previous record set in July 2022. Located on the Arizona-Nevada border, Lake Mead provides drinking water to 20-25 million people and is a crucial part of the Colorado River Basin system, serving 40 million across seven states, tribal communities, and Mexico. The decline is largely due to below-average snowmelt runoff from the Rocky Mountains and a decision to keep more water in Lake Powell, which accelerates Lake Mead's water level drop. Officials warn that the continued decrease could reduce Hoover Dam’s hydropower capacity by up to 40 percent and has already exposed previously submerged shorelines and other items. To address the crisis, Colorado has initiated a program to incentivize water conservation, and a federal plan proposes significant water use reductions for Arizona, California and Nevada. In fullLake Mead water has hit a new low — and there’s little hope of improvement: ‘It’s grim’More bulletinsThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
