Lake Mead hits historic low water level as Colorado River struggles
A tourist takes a photo of Lake Mead near Boulder City, Nev., on Friday, Aug. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Ty ONeil)
BOULDER CITY, Nev. (AP) — Lake Mead, the largest reservoir in the United States, has plummeted to its lowest water level since it was filled some 90 years ago, another sign of the crisis plaguing the Colorado River system.
Water levels at the reservoir, which straddles the Arizona-Nevada border outside Las Vegas, hit 1,040.4 feet (317.1 meters) above sea level on Friday, according to federal data. That’s just below the record set on July 28, 2022, according to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.
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