Lake Mead Water Level Reaches Historic Low

Why it matters locally: While New Mexico is not directly on the Colorado River, the river basin's overall health and water allocations are critical to the state's long-term water resources due to interconnected water systems and agreements.

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LAS VEGAS – Lake Mead, a major reservoir on the Colorado River, recorded its lowest water level since its creation. The Bureau of Reclamation measured the lake's elevation at 1,040.71 feet above sea level on Friday, July 23, 2021. This measurement surpasses the previous record low set in 2016. The reservoir's declining water levels correlate with a significantly reduced snowpack across the Colorado River Basin. Officials reported the past winter produced the lowest snowpack on record for the basin. Snowpack in the Rocky Mountains directly contributes to the Colorado River's flow, which in turn replenishes Lake Mead. Lake Mead provides water to approximately 25 million people across Arizona, California, and Nevada. It also supports agricultural irrigation in the region. The reservoir's capacity allows it to hold over 28 million acre-feet of water when full.