US reservoirs hit record lows amid Colorado River drought

Lake Powell, the second-largest reservoir in the United States, has fallen to its lowest level on record, intensifying concerns over water and power supplies for millions in the West. The reservoir dropped to 3,519.91 feet on Saturday, surpassing the previous record set in April 2023, according to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Source: CNN. Lake Mead, the largest reservoir, also hit a historic low nine days earlier, and together they hold less than 60% of the basin's stored water Source: CNN.

Drought and climate

The decline is driven by a prolonged drought, higher temperatures, and heavy water use. The Colorado River has shrunk by about 20% since 2000, and the past winter was one of the driest and warmest on record in the West Source: Infobae. The river supplies water to roughly 40 million people and irrigates over 2 million hectares across seven states Source: Diario Libre.

Power generation at risk

Lake Powell is now less than 30 feet from the "minimum power pool," the level below which Glen Canyon Dam cannot generate electricity Source: CNN. The dam provides power for about 500,000 homes Source: Infobae. If the water drops to 3,370 feet, it would stop flowing downstream entirely Source: Infobae.

Political conflict

Seven states have failed to agree on water sharing, prompting the Trump administration to impose restrictions. The federal plan requires California, Arizona, and Nevada to cut their combined water use by up to 3.7 billion cubic meters annually until 2036, but it does not impose equivalent cuts on upper-basin states Source: El Nacional. This asymmetry could lead to lawsuits; Arizona has already set aside millions for potential litigation Source: Diario Libre.