Lake Powell nears record low as Western drought persists
The water level in the United States’ largest reservoir, Lake Mead, has reached a record low as the western region faces intense drought conditions. The lake’s level fell to 1,040.5 feet Friday, the lowest since tracking began in 1930, the Bureau of Reclamation reports.
Lake Mead, formed by the Hoover Dam on the Colorado River, provides water to about 20 million people in Arizona, California, Nevada and into Mexico. Its supply is also crucial to the Southwest’s agriculture industry, used in irrigation across 5 million acres.
The reservoir has continued to drop every day this month, according to the Bureau of Reclamation. The previous record low was 1,040.58 feet on July 28, 2022.
Lake Mead is the largest reservoir in the United States based on its capacity. It is situated in Nevada and Arizona.
The water elevation in the United States’ second-largest reservoir, Lake Powell, is also approaching a record low. On Thursday, its water elevation was recorded at 3,521.43 feet.
The drought conditions in the West have been exacerbated by significantly higher temperatures this summer, following a light snow pack over the winter.
Last week the Trump administration issued a management plan for the Colorado River, calling for cuts to water supplies to California, Arizona and Nevada. The government said it will reassess the situation in two years.