Lake Mead, North America’s largest artificial reservoir, formed on the Colorado River between Nevada and Arizona, has shrunk to historic lows—dropping to about 30 percent of its capacity. The reservoir is a major source of water for Arizona, Nevada, and California, as well as part of Mexico, serving nearly 25 million people and huge agricultural areas. A combination of drought, climate change, and growing regional demand for water have driven the reservoir to its lowest levels since the 1930s; its water level is now 1,050 feet (and falling), down from an all-time high of 1,225 feet in 1983.
Water Levels in Lake Mead Reach Record Lows
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![A view of a partially empty reservoir and dam structures, surrounded by rocky hills and cliffs.]()
Read moreExposed rock is seen near intake tubes at Hoover Dam, where water levels have declined dramatically in Boulder City, Nevada, on April 17, 2022. #
Caitlin Ochs / Reuters -
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![A broad stripe of white-colored recently-exposed rock is seen lining a reservoir.]()
Read moreThe growing “bathtub ring” around Lake Mead, seen near Hoover Dam, on January 11, 2022, near Boulder City, Nevada #
George Rose / Getty -
![Several people walk on dry earth near an abandoned boat.]()
Read moreA formerly sunken boat sits on cracked earth hundreds of feet from what is now the shoreline at Lake Mead National Recreation Area, photographed on May 9, 2022, near Boulder City. #
John Locher / AP -
![An aerial view of a very full dam reservoir, from 1983.]()
Read more(1 of 3) An archival image from 1983 shows a view of Lake Mead at its highest water level ever. On July 5, 1983, this aerial photograph shows Hoover Dam, where the level was recorded at 1,225.44 feet. Overflow water is seen running into side spillways (at top and bottom of photo). #
Bob Riha Jr / Getty -
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![People stand on a dam structure overlooking water flowing into a spillway in 1983.]()
Read more(2 of 3) An archival image shows overflow water cascading down a spillway at Hoover Dam on July 5, 1983, near Boulder City, Nevada. #
Bob Riha Jr / Getty -
![An aerial image of a very full reservoir behind a dam, surrounded by arid, rocky terrain.]()
Read more(3 of 3) This archival photo taken on July 5, 1983, shows Lake Mead at its historic high water level, with overflow water cascading into the spillways of Hoover Dam. #
Bob Riha Jr / Getty -
![An aerial view of Hoover Dam and a depleted reservoir behind it.]()
Read moreAn aerial view of Hoover Dam and Lake Mead, seen on January 11, 2022, as the water was reaching one of its lowest levels since the dam was first constructed in 1935 #
George Rose / Getty -
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![A broad view from a hilltop of Lake Mead, a floating marina, and surrounding hills.]()
Read moreBoats are shown docked at the Lake Mead Marina, to the left of the Boulder Islands in Boulder Basin in drought-stricken Lake Mead on May 9, 2022. #
Mario Tama / Getty -
![A rusting barrel sits on a shoreline.]()
Read moreA rusting barrel that used to be underwater sits on the shoreline of Lake Mead on May 9, 2022, near Boulder City, Nevada. #
John Locher / AP -
![A small sign reading "Lake Mead Water Line 2000," stands on a dry slope above a distant reservoir and hills.]()
Read moreA water-line marker from the year 2000 is posted along drought-stricken Lake Mead on May 9, 2022, in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area. #
Mario Tama / Getty -
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![A pickup truck sits in shallow water, alongside a dock waiting to hook up to a small boat.]()
Read moreVisitors retrieve a boat from a launch ramp extended multiple times as a result of worsening low water levels at the Lake Mead Marina in Boulder City on May 5, 2022. #
Patrick T. Fallon / AFP / Getty -
![Several people are seen relaxing on boats floating in a reservoir surrounded by rocky cliffs.]()
Read morePeople enjoy a day on Lake Mead near Boulder City on April 17, 2022. #
Caitlin Ochs / Reuters -
![A jet skier hurtles past a rocky cliffside.]()
Read morePeople on a Jet Ski pass a thick white line that shows fallen water levels on Lake Mead on April 17, 2022. #
Caitlin Ochs / Reuters -
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![A person is seen standing on dry, cracked earth.]()
Read moreMisha McBride stands on cracked earth that was once underwater near Lake Mead on May 9, 2022. #
John Locher / AP -
![An old aluminum beer can is seen sitting on dirt.]()
Read moreAn old Budweiser can, which had been submerged, rests on a now-dry section of lakebed at Lake Mead on May 10, 2022. #
Mario Tama / Getty -
![A view of the top of a large intake pipe, just above the water's surface, beside a cliff.]()
Read moreThis April 25, 2022, photo provided by the Southern Nevada Water Authority shows the top of Lake Mead drinking-water Intake No. 1 above the surface level of the Colorado River reservoir behind Hoover Dam. #
Southern Nevada Water Authority / AP -
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![An aerial view of Hoover Dam and surrounding area.]()
Read moreHoover Dam and Lake Mead, viewed from the air along with the Mike O’Callaghan–Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge arch bridge, seen on January 11, 2022 #
George Rose / Getty -
![A view of a floating marina, seen in front of distant mountains, along a shrinking reservoir.]()
Read moreBoats are docked near a “bathtub ring” of mineral deposits left by higher water levels along Lake Mead on May 9, 2022. #
Mario Tama / Getty -
![A person rides a personal watercraft near a rocky hillside, which was formerly underwater.]()
Read moreA person rides a personal watercraft near the Lake Mead Marina on May 5, 2022. #
Patrick T. Fallon / AFP / Getty -
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![A cylindrical hunk of rusted debris sits on dry ground near Lake Mead.]()
Read moreRusted debris, which had been submerged, rests on a now-dry section of lakebed along Lake Mead on May 10, 2022. #
Mario Tama / Getty -
![An aerial view of a complex shoreline of the shrinking Lake Mead, featuring recently-emerged rocks and hills.]()
Read moreAn aerial view of Lake Mead, seen at about 30 percent capacity, on January 11, 2022, near Boulder City, Nevada #
George Rose / Getty
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