Nevada is staring down a water crisis that could affect millions, as Lake Mead, one of the country’s most vital reservoirs, approaches dangerously low levels.
The lake, which draws from the Colorado River, has been struggling under severe drought conditions for years, and experts warn that the window for a solution is closing fast.
Water Levels Hit Historic Lows
Lake Mead, which supplies drinking water to millions in Nevada, Arizona, and California, is already under a Tier-1 shortage.
The reservoir first hit record lows in 2022, and projections suggest it could fall even further by the summer of 2027, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
With water levels declining, the stakes for communities and agriculture across seven states have never been higher.
Lawmakers Push for a Seven-State Agreement
Democratic Rep. Susie Lee emphasized that time is running out for a multistate deal as existing rules for managing the Colorado River are set to expire next year.
State representatives have been negotiating the future of water allocations that will directly impact both Lake Mead and Lake Powell.
At the Southern Nevada Water Summit, Lee said, “It’s crunch time for the negotiators.
There’s a lot of places where I don’t see eye-to-eye with this current administration, but we do agree on this much: the best path forward is a plan agreed upon by the basin states and tribes, not imposed by Washington, D.C.”
Experts Warn of an Imminent Crisis
Utah State University professor Jack Schmidt told the Nevada Current that “the worst has come true.”
He warned that without serious intervention, the Colorado River system could be on the “brink of crisis,” adding, “We’ve got the onset of an extremely dry year, and we’re on the brink of collapsing the system.”
The Drought’s Devastating Impact
Lake Mead, stretching 112 miles, has faced dramatic drought conditions in recent years.
In 2022, low water levels revealed sunken boats, fish carcasses, and even human remains.
Before the drought, water levels had already fallen nearly 60 feet over two years, bottoming out at 1,040 feet above sea level.
The Southern Nevada Water Authority notes that the lake can hold almost 9 trillion gallons of water.
However, ongoing drought and a hotter, drier climate have caused a drop of over 150 feet, with further declines expected.
If levels fall below 895 feet, water cannot flow through Hoover Dam to serve California, Arizona, and Mexico.
Alarmingly Low Reservoirs Threaten Millions
A June report by environmental firm AEM highlighted the severity of the situation, showing Lake Mead and Lake Powell holding just one-third of their normal capacity.
Together, these reservoirs provide drinking water for 40 million Americans.
The shortage poses serious challenges for agriculture, urban water supplies, and water-dependent industries.
Federal Intervention Could Become Necessary
If the seven states relying on the Colorado River cannot reach a consensus, Scott Cameron, acting assistant secretary for water and science at the Department of the Interior, indicated that Secretary Doug Burgum would step in.
“He’s not looking forward to that, but in the absence of a seven-state agreement, he will do it,” Cameron told The Colorado Sun.
Calls for Sustainable Operating Guidelines
The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation has also stressed the urgency of new agreements.
David Palumbo, acting commissioner of the USBR, said, “We must develop new, sustainable operating guidelines that are robust enough to withstand ongoing drought and poor runoff conditions.”
Negotiations Remain Complex
Colby Pellegrino, deputy general manager at the Southern Nevada Water Authority, noted that she has participated in every river deal since 2006, and the current situation is especially challenging given the depleted state of reservoirs.
One concept being considered is the so-called “divorce” approach, which would determine water releases from Lake Powell based on natural flow measurements at Lees Ferry in Arizona.
Pellegrino explained, “We’re going to have a wildly variable supply.
We don’t know how low we can go. The percentage-based supply really helps stay true to what Mother Nature is providing us.
We’ve got a long way to go to see if we can agree on the details.”
