Lake Mead hits lowest water level on record as Colorado River crisis deepens | CNN

Lake Mead has fallen to its lowest level ever, underscoring how deep the Colorado River crisis has become. On Thursday, the reservoir dropped to 1,040.5 feet, according to U.S. Bureau of Reclamation data published Friday. That is just below the previous record low of 1,040.58 feet set in July 2022, and the lake is now lower than at any point since it began filling about nine decades ago. Lake Mead, formed after Hoover Dam was built, supplies water to more than 20 million people. Experts also warn Lake Powell could reach record lows soon as drought, hotter conditions, and low snowpack persist.