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Newsweek
30-05-2025
- Climate
- Newsweek
Lake Mead Warning Issued: 'On a Knife's Edge'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A warning has been issued over low water levels at Lake Mead and Lake Powell, with advocates saying the Colorado River Basin is "on a knife's edge." Dry conditions and disappointing runoff from winter snowpack have sharply reduced the Colorado River's flow, straining a vital water supply for millions across the American Southwest. Why It Matters Lake Mead is a vital water source for millions of people across Nevada, Arizona, California, and parts of Mexico. Its declining levels could potentially jeopardize municipal water supplies, agricultural irrigation, and hydroelectric power generation. A ferry boat passes Rock Island rises on Lake Mead along the Colorado River on March 14, 2025 in Boulder City, Nevada. A ferry boat passes Rock Island rises on Lake Mead along the Colorado River on March 14, 2025 in Boulder City, To Know As of May 30, Lake Mead's water level measured 1,057.43 feet mean sea level (MSL), 171.57 feet below its full pool of 1,229. Lake Powell was at 3,558.92 feet MSL, 141.08 feet below its full pool of 3,700 feet, according to Lakes Online, an online resource for lake and reservoir information. The levels, combined with disappointing snowmelts, have raised the prospect of deeper shortages and cutbacks in water deliveries in the years ahead, according to the Los Angeles Times. John Berggren, the regional policy manager for the nonprofit group Western Resource Advocates, told the paper, "Increasing temperatures in recent decades are having a real impact on runoff." "It's something that, unfortunately, we're going to see more and more of, where you need well above average snowpack to come somewhere close to average runoff because of the warming temperatures," he continued. "We're kind of on a knife's edge between being OK and being in very scary, catastrophic situations," Berggren added. Lake Mead is the largest reservoir in the U.S., with a capacity of nearly 29 million acre-feet of water. It is followed closely by Lake Powell, which can hold some 26 million acre-feet. Lake Mead, which receives flows from Lake Powell, hit critically low levels during the summer of 2022 following years of drought. Levels have somewhat recovered since. What People Are Saying Daniel Swain, a climate scientist at UCLA, told the Los Angeles Times: "This is another year that is not going to help the Colorado basin's long-term water crisis. It's going to make things worse. This year will once again be putting more stress on the Colorado system." Kyle Roerink, executive director of the Great Basin Water Network, told the Las Vegas Review-Journal previously: "It's going to be a painful summer, watching the levels go down. We're getting to those dangerous levels we saw a few years ago." "These types of runoff conditions make water managers nervous. They make NGOs nervous, and they certainly make water users nervous." What Happens Next An earlier study from UCLA and the Natural Resources Defense Council suggested that raising wastewater recycling to 40 percent in the Colorado Basin could conserve nearly 900,000 acre-feet annually, potentially supplying nearly two million households.
Newsweek
12-05-2025
- Climate
- Newsweek
Lake Mead Water Warning Issued: 'Painful Summer'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. New data suggest that a disappointing snowpack could result in less water than previously thought for America's two largest reservoirs. Why It Matters Lake Mead is a vital water source for millions of people across Nevada, Arizona, California, and parts of Mexico. Its declining levels potentially jeopardize municipal water supplies, agricultural irrigation, and hydroelectric power generation. What To Know Officials previously raised concerns about the water levels in Lake Mead and Lake Powell, following a lacking winter snowpack that threatened to stall progress made during last year's wetter-than-average season. File photo of Lake Mead as seen from Hoover Dam at the Nevada and Arizona border. File photo of Lake Mead as seen from Hoover Dam at the Nevada and Arizona border. bloodua/Getty Images The resulting water supply is expected to be even lower than earlier projections. Scientists now forecast runoff into Lake Powell to reach just 55 percent of the average, down from the previous estimate of 67 percent, according to data from the National Weather Service's Colorado Basin River Forecast Center cited by the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Lake Powell, situated along the Arizona-Utah border, and Lake Mead, located near Las Vegas, are both integral components of the Colorado River system. The Colorado River Basin supplies water to more than 40 million people across seven states and Mexico. Lake Mead, which receives flows from Lake Powell, hit critically low levels during the summer of 2022 following years of drought. The lakes are the two largest reservoirs in the U.S., with a combined capacity of approximately 55 million acre-feet. At the time of writing, Lake Mead's water levels were 1,060.06 feet mean sea level, 168.94 feet below its full pool of 1,229, according to Lakes Online, an online resource for lake and reservoir information. What People Are Saying Kyle Roerink, executive director of the Great Basin Water Network, told the Las Vegas Review-Journal: "It's going to be a painful summer, watching the levels go down. We're getting to those dangerous levels we saw a few years ago." "These types of runoff conditions make water managers nervous," Roerink said. "They make NGOs nervous, and they certainly make water users nervous." What Happens Next Meanwhile, the states that rely on the Colorado River have been engaged in negotiations to develop new water-sharing agreements by 2026. A study earlier this year suggested that increasing wastewater recycling to 40 percent in states within the basin could conserve nearly 900,000 acre-feet of Colorado River water annually, enough to supply almost two million households. The authors advocate for policy actions such as new federal reuse guidelines, standardized reporting, and expanded grant programs to promote water recycling.
Newsweek
08-05-2025
- Newsweek
Lake Mead Plans Major Change Amid Declining Water Levels
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The National Park Service (NPS) will begin a major construction project at Lake Mead's most active boat launch in summer 2025, extending the Hemenway Harbor ramp to maintain access amid declining water levels. Why It Matters Hemenway Harbor is the most popular and heavily used launch ramp in Lake Mead National Recreation Area, situated near the Las Vegas metro area. With Lake Mead's water levels in long-term decline, this construction is aimed at preserving lake access for motorized boating and other visitor services. NPS noted the work "supports the facilities, operations, and marina services necessary to maintain lake access and other water-based recreation opportunities." What To Know According to a May 7 announcement, phase one of the project will begin June 2. It aims to extend the launch ramp to an elevation of approximately 1,000 feet, ensuring that boating access can continue, should lake levels decline. Hemenway Harbor boat launch and marina map showing the construction area and boat traffic flow. Hemenway Harbor boat launch and marina map showing the construction area and boat traffic flow. Google Earth/NPS "Colorado River Basin water levels are anticipated to fluctuate over the next several years and current projections indicate motorized boating on Lake Mead will be sufficiently managed through at least 2026," the NPS said in a release. "However, the NPS must be prepared to adjust and respond if water levels decline to roughly 1,000 feet." The ramp extension project will temporarily reduce access during busy summer months. Hemenway Harbor will remain operational, but its launch lanes will be reduced to one, and the courtesy docks will be halved. Construction staging areas will also restrict some shoreline and parking space. Visitors can expect longer wait times, especially on weekends and holidays, the NPS said. The NPS advises visitors to "plan ahead before traveling to the park" and encourages weekday use to avoid congestion. Fueling services at Las Vegas Boat Harbor will remain open, but boaters are urged to fuel up on land beforehand. Lake Mead, located on the border of Nevada and Arizona, hit critically low levels during the summer of 2022 following years of drought. However, recent winters with above-average snowfall and precipitation have helped boost its water levels, Newsweek previously reported. At the time of writing, Lake Mead's water levels were 1,060.95 feet mean sea level, 168.05 feet below its full pool of 1,229, according to Lakes Online, an online resource for lake and reservoir information. What People Are Saying Lake Mead National Recreation Area said in a post on Facebook: "Summer weather and lowering water levels provide the best underwater construction opportunities, saving time and construction cost." It added: "Fueling services on the water at the Las Vegas Boat Harbor will be open during construction, but it is strongly recommended that boaters use land-based fueling options before arriving at the park to avoid marina congestion." What Happens Next Construction is expected to continue through summer 2025.
