Summary
The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation has projected that Lake Mead's water level will drop to 1,036.5 feet by the end of November 2027. This prediction comes as Western U.S. states work on new plans for managing water from the Colorado River, which supplies water to millions of people and acres of farmland.
Key Facts
- Lake Mead is the largest reservoir in the United States.
- It is part of the Colorado River system, which supports over 5 million acres of farmland and supplies water to 40 million people in the Western U.S.
- The Bureau of Reclamation predicts Lake Mead's water level will fall to 1,036.5 feet by November 2027.
- This level would be lower than any recorded at the end of a month in 2022.
- Poor snowpack and dry soil are contributing factors to the low water supply forecasts for the Colorado River.
- Federal officials are considering new plans for managing the Colorado River's resources as current agreements approach their 2026 expiration.
- As of the latest data, Lake Mead is 33 percent full, with around 8.7 million acre-feet of water in storage.
