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By Sophie Clark
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Lake Mead's water levels are projected to be the lowest in recorded history by 2027, according to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.
The lake, which was first filled in 1935, is already only 31 percent full after dropping to a low of 1,041.71 feet of water above sea level in July 2022. Its levels have risen since that low in 2022, but are expected to fall again to 1,041.06 feet as of May 2027.
Kyle Roerink, executive director of the Great Basin Water Network, told Newsweek: "There will need to be a basin-wide focus on curtailment. Lower Basin entities will have to continue decreasing usage to greater extents, and Upper Basin entities must begin reducing usage in a predictable way, which is currently not the case and a point of contention."
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Why It Matters
Lake Mead is the nation's largest reservoir and is part of the Colorado River Basin network, which supplies water to seven U.S. states, 30 tribal nations and also parts of Mexico.
Approximately 25 million people, including residents of the major cities of Las Vegas, Phoenix and Los Angeles, rely on water from Lake Mead. The nearby Hoover Dam, which is powered by water from Lake Mead, generates enough hydroelectric power each year to serve 1.3 million people in Nevada, Arizona and California.
What To Know
Lake Mead's water levels are determined by a number of factors including natural conditions and demand.
A major reason is climate change, as unpredictable weather patterns, hotter summers which not only dry out the lake but also increase demand for water, and more arid winters are leaving the basin empty. Now, despite a snowy past winter in Colorado, the basin is still struggling.
Roerink told 8NewsNow that the levels represent "the uncertainty we face year after year."
"We cannot separate anthropogenic climate change with the indisputable human consumption of the river," said Roerink. "Upper Basin states are pursuing new uses of the river because they have pieces of paper that they believe justify those pursuits. And Lower Basin interests are working to ensure every drop they have used in the past can remain in their possession. There is human jockeying, folly, and arrogance at the core of the problems.
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Further Water Restrictions?
Arizona and Nevada, two states that rely on Lake Mead, are already under Tier 1 federal water shortage declarations, which reduce their Colorado River water allocations. In response, some local and state governments have imposed additional water conservation measures, such as banning free-flowing hoses or restricting landscape irrigation. If water levels continue to drop, a Tier 2 shortage could be declared, leading to further reductions in water deliveries to these states.
Roerink told Newsweek: "We also need to respect groundwater more than ever before. There are inherent connections between what we see in river systems and what's underground. The science is finally catching up with this fact. And, unfortunately, the changing water cycle applies to this as well. Our savings accounts—rainy day funds—are going dry.
"Another false flag solution: importing water from somewhere else must be completely off the table and out of the question. We have seen Colorado River-dependent entities look to pump groundwater from out-of basin communities and water sources. Those other sources in other watersheds are experiencing similar impacts. There is no spare water in the arid west."
Millions of people rely on this basin for water and electricity as President Donald Trump's administration has withdrawn the U.S. from the Paris Climate Agreement again and has opened up the country for more fossil fuel drilling.
Trump has signed several executive orders to revive fossil fuel production by declaring an "energy emergency," and the Environmental Protection Agency led by Lee Zeldin has worked to remove clean air standards.
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) also laid off several Lake Mead workers during its mass-firing drive. However, many of these employees have now been reinstated.
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What People Are Saying
Kyle Roerink, executive director of the Great Basin Water Network, told Newsweek: "Water managers must implore Congress to provide more financial relief for urban and agricultural conservation programs immediately. This mitigates the sting of cuts by easing the pain with money. How we traditionally prop up Mead is by paying farmers to fallow temporarily. Agriculture is the reliable water bank. So farmers should begin planning accordingly.
"We also need to start fast-tracking projects for water recycling and reuse. There is an effort in Southern California that would limit its reliance on the river and [hence] prop up Mead. That technology must be deployed to Denver, Salt Lake City, Albuquerque and Phoenix.
"Congress loves a crisis on the Colorado River, and it loves printing money. Those are not mutually exclusive in this case."
What Happens Next
Lake workers are working to expand surrounding recreation areas, as lowering water levels has resulted in a change in where people can enjoy time at the lake.
As temperatures rise in the region and little evident action to combat climate change, residents who rely on water from Lake Mead can expect to endure more restrictions on their water access.
Correction 6/18/25, 12:47 p.m. ET: This article was updated to correct the year Lake Mead was first filled plus the states and number of people served by the Hoover Dam's hydroelectric power. An earlier version of this article also stated that California is under a Tier 1 water restriction.
Updates 6/18/2025, 12:47 p.m. ET: This article was updated to clarify the difference between federal and state-level water restrictions and with comment from Kyle Roerink.
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