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Lake Mead Water Levels Drop to Lowest Recorded Level Since 1930s
Just the facts
The reservoir along the Nevada-Arizona border surpassed its previous historic low set in July 2022 amid ongoing drought and reduced snowpack in the Colorado River basin. Lake Mead supplies water and hydroelectric power to roughly 30 million people across seven western states, tribal lands, and Mexico. Federal officials announced a temporary emergency proposal calling for reduced water allocations in California, Arizona, and Nevada. Officials also halted planned releases from Glen Canyon Dam at Lake Powell to conserve upstream storage and protect native fish species.
Why this is news
Federal data from the Bureau of Reclamation revealed that water levels at Lake Mead dropped to 1,040.4 feet above sea level, reaching the lowest recorded level since the reservoir was filled.
Sources
This summary is compiled strictly from the original reporting below.