California may get $65M to leave 65 billion gallons in Lake Mead
The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California has secured a $65 million federal agreement to conserve water and keep it in Lake Mead. This initiative aims to combat historically low water levels in the reservoir caused by prolonged drought and high demand.
Why it matters
As the largest reservoir in the US, Lake Mead's health is critical for the water security of millions of people in the American Southwest.
Lake Mead is a man-made lake that lies on the Colorado River, about 24 miles southeast of the city of Las Vegas, Nevada. Formed by the Hoover Dam, it is the largest reservoir in the United States and supplies water to about 20 million people in the states of Arizona, California, Nevada and some in Mexico.Currently, the lake is tacking historically low water levels, sitting at just 28% of its capacity. The lake is currently around 1,042 feet in elevation, less than two feet above its all-time record low set in 2022. A prolonged regional drought accompanied by high water demands on the Colorado River, is driving the decline.In an effort to address this issue, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California approved an agreement with the federal government to help add water to the reservoir, according to a report by NBC Los Angeles.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in