Lake Powell has fallen to its lowest level on record, and federal forecasts show Lake Mead heading lower over the next two years. A NASA satellite analysis put Powell's surface near Glen Canyon Dam at 3,517.24 feet on September 10, below the previous record of 3,519.92 feet set on April 13, 2023. Lake Mead, downstream on the Arizona-Nevada line, also hit record lows in August.
The Colorado River, which feeds both reservoirs, supplies water and electricity to more than 40 million people, including residents of Las Vegas, Phoenix, Los Angeles, and San Diego. Taps are not running dry. For households, the more pressing questions are how shrinking supplies could shape water rules, heat safety, and power reliability over the next two years.
