Lake Mead drops to 1,040 ft as Colorado River crisis deepens

A paddle boat in Lake Mead near the Hoover Dam, far below the bathtub ring of light minerals indicating the lack of water, near Boulder City, Nev., on Friday, Aug. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Ty ONeil) Lake Mead, the largest reservoir in the United States, has reached its lowest recorded level since it was created nearly 90 years ago, according to AP News. The reservoir fell to 1,040.4 feet above sea level, just below its previous record low from July 2022. At the same time, Lake Powell, the country’s second-largest reservoir, remains dangerously depleted, raising concerns about the future of water supplies, hydropower, agriculture, wildlife, and communities across the Southwest.The two reservoirs are the backbone of the Colorado River system. Together, they help manage water for roughly 40 million people across seven U.S. states, Tribal communities, and Mexico. They also store water from wet years so cities and farms can continue receiving supplies during prolonged drought.But after years of low snowpack, extreme heat, drought, overuse, and rising evaporation, that reserve is rapidly shrinking. The question is no longer simply whether the lakes look low. It is what would happen if Lake Pow...