Colorado River at historic low levels imperils water and electricity for millions

The combined water levels of Lake Powell and Lake Mead have fallen to historic lows, threatening water deliveries and hydropower for tens of millions in the U.S. Southwest. Powell is at a record-low for July and Mead is near its all-time low, with ongoing drought and climate-change–driven aridity shrinking the basin’s storage. Projections suggest continued record-low storage into spring, prompting renewed negotiations among seven basin states and potential new operating guidelines, while El Niño offers only limited relief. The crisis underscores the need for major efficiency investments, crop-shifts, and other adaptive measures to prevent a system-wide failure.