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US reservoir hits record low
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Lake Mead, the nation's largest reservoir, hit a record low in August 2026. The Colorado River crisis threatens water and power for millions.
Background
Lake Mead and Lake Powell, the two largest reservoirs in the U.S., are at record lows due to a megadrought and overuse of the Colorado River. These reservoirs supply water and hydroelectric power to millions in the Southwest. The low levels have triggered concerns about water supply cuts and potential impacts on hydropower generation.
How it unfolded
- Aug 7, 2026Lake Mead's water level reached a new low, according to AZCentral.com.
- Aug 9, 2026Lake Mead's record low was first broken on Thursday night and continued to fall over the following days.
- Aug 10, 2026Lake Mead's surface elevation dropped to 1,040.3 feet, lower than the previous record set on July 28, 2022.
- Aug 15, 2026Lake Powell's pool elevation dropped to 3,519.91 feet, breaking its previous record of 3,519.92 feet set in April 2023.
Who’s saying what
- Expert
- Jack Schmidt, senior research scientist, said the record lows signal it's time to rethink the entire water storage system in the Colorado River basin.
- Official
- Federal water officials caution that the daily water level figure is provisional and subject to revision, but the downward trend suggests the record low is imminent.
- Analysts
- Megdal, an expert, described the situation as 'critical' and a 'crisis' because such low levels have not been seen since the reservoirs were first filled.
Still unverified
The exact record low for Lake Mead on August 7, 2026, is not specified in the material; the figure of 1,040.3 feet is from August 9, 2026.