Lake Mead hits historic low water level as Colorado River struggles
Lake Mead has reached its lowest water level in 90 years, highlighting the ongoing crisis within the Colorado River basin. The decline threatens water supplies for millions of people and impacts agriculture, hydropower, and regional ecosystems.
Why it matters
The depletion of the largest reservoir in the U.S. underscores the severe long-term impact of climate change and water mismanagement in the American West.
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BOULDER CITY, Nev. (AP) — Lake Mead, the largest reservoir in the United States, has plummeted to its lowest water level since it was filled some 90 years ago, another sign of the crisis plaguing the Colorado River system.
Water levels at the reservoir, which straddles the Arizona-Nevada border outside Las Vegas, hit 1,040.4 feet (317.1 meters) above sea level on Friday, according to federal data . That’s just below the record set on July 28, 2022, according to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.
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