Analysis: The two largest reservoirs in the US have hit record-low levels
Lake Mead and Lake Powell, the two largest reservoirs in the US, have reached record-low water levels due to climate change, population growth, and over-consumption. Experts warn that the downward trend will likely continue until the spring snowmelt.
Why it matters
The Colorado River basin provides essential water for 40 million people and millions of acres of farmland, making this a critical infrastructure and environmental crisis.
Share The second-largest reservoir in the US reached a record-low water height on Saturday – just days after the country’s largest reservoir broke its own record.
Both Lake Mead and Lake Powell are located on the Colorado River.
They provide water for populations across seven US states in the south-western US, with around 40 million people getting some or all of their municipal water from the Colorado River.
The river also provides water for around 5.5m acres (22,258 square kilometres) of farmland across Colorado, Arizona, California and the other states in the river basin.
Experts tell Carbon Brief that climate change, population growth and over-consumption are all contributing to the current record-low levels of the reservoirs.
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