NASA Space Image Shows One of Arizona’s Main Bodies of Water ‘Near-Empty’
Summary
NASA satellite images show that Arizona’s San Carlos Reservoir is nearly empty, holding less than 1 percent of its capacity after a severe drought and water releases. The low water levels caused nearly all the fish to die and raised concerns about water supply for farms and communities.Key Facts
- The San Carlos Reservoir had only 389 acre-feet of water on May 22, 2026, down from about 60 percent full in June 2023.
- The reservoir is fed by the San Carlos River, part of the important Gila River system in the Southwest.
- Built by the Coolidge Dam, the reservoir supports about 100,000 acres of farmland.
- Fish deaths occurred because low water levels reduced oxygen in the reservoir.
- The reservoir is closed indefinitely due to health risks from decomposing fish.
- The water loss was caused by very low snowfall (only 2 percent of normal) and required water releases to downstream farms.
- Similar low water events and fish kills happened before, including in 1976 and 2018.
- There is hope for recovery if above-average rainfall happens during the summer monsoon, possibly helped by El Niño.
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