Powell Reservoir Drops to Record Low as Colorado River Face-of-Drought Tightens Water Supply

Lake Powell, the nation’s second-largest reservoir, has fallen to a record-low water level of about 3,519.8 feet, with Lake Mead also at a historic low (roughly 1,039.83 feet); projections show Mead could dip below 1,110 feet by 2028 and Powell near the minimum power pool (about 3,490 feet) by 2027. Seven states and roughly 35–40 million people rely on the Colorado River, as drought, climate change, and heavy use tighten supplies. The Interior Department proposed cutbacks of up to 3 million acre-feet per year, a plan facing pushback from state officials such as Arizona’s governor.