Lake Mead declines to new low as Colorado River crisis deepens
Lake Mead has declined to its lowest level since the reservoir was filled in the 1930s following the construction of Hoover Dam, marking a new milestone for the water-starved Colorado River in a downward spiral that shows no sign of letting up. The reservoir near Las Vegas holds water for cities, farms and tribal lands in Arizona, Nevada, California and Mexico. Years of unrelenting drought and temperatures pushed higher by climate change are shrinking the flow into the lake, contributing to the large mismatch between the demands for water and the Colorado’s diminishing supply.
Related articles:
- Washington Post: Record heat forecast to bake Southwest next week, amid worsening drought
- AP News: Key reservoir on Colorado River hits record low amid drought
- KNAU: Water Experts Warn Of Colorado River’s Limits
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory: Decisions, Decisions: Climate Change and Water
- Washington Post: Opinion - The Southwest’s water problems are about to get much worse