The largest reservoir in the U.S. has reportedly dropped several feet in recent weeks, nearing its record low, a new report reveals.
Lake Mead, which is located on the Nevada-Arizona border, has dropped about six feet since March 1, FOX 5 Vegas reports. Boater Ron Klug told the outlet he was “shocked” to see “how low the water was” on Lake Mead, which now set just 20 feet above the all-time low.
Bronson Mack, an outreach manager for the Southern Nevada Water Authority, told FOX 5 that Lake Mead is now at about 35 percent capacity and that it could drop another 16 feet by 2027. He also pointed to the “very low snowpack” this past winter, which has caused dry conditions.
Most of the water in Lake Mead comes from snowpack, Fox 5 reports.
Still, Mack told the outlet that Southern Nevada’s water supply is still safe: “We are drawing water from the deepest part of the lake. Our pumping station can pump to the deepest elevations.”
Still, according to federal projections released last month, Lake Mead could reach record-low water levels by November 2027, Fox 5 reports.
That level would be approximately 1,032 feet, 8 feet lower than a previous record set in 2022.
Drought conditions and the ongoing climate crisis have also caused Lake Mead’s water temperatures to rise, which could pose problems for water treatment operations, according to the Nevada Current.
Todd Tietjen, the regional water quality manager for the Southern Nevada Water Authority, told the outlet: “We really rely on the cold water being present for our treatment process.”
“Our treatment process was designed around cooler, colder waters. Our buildings on site are cooled by this water,” he added.
These rising temperatures could also pose problems for the Hoover Dam.
“Most of the turbines are cooled by Lake Mead water, so they run into problems if they have hot water, and if we lose power at Glen Canyon and Hoover Dam, that’s a big problem for the West,” Tietjen told the Nevada Current.
Officials also had to issue a warning last month after a harmful algal bloom was reported in in Government Wash, a part of the Lake Mead National Recreation Area. The National Park Service said the algal bloom “may contain toxins and is unsafe for swimming or contact.”
“Children and pets are at higher risk if contaminated water is swallowed. Keep pets leashed and away from the water. Seek medical or veterinary care if symptoms occur after exposure,” the service said in a March 13 statement.
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