Is Climate Change Affecting the Most Important Lake in Arizona?

Water will always be an issue in the desert. With rising populations in Arizona and the surrounding states, coupled with long-time drought and overuse, Lake Mead will always be the subject of concern when it comes to our growing water crisis.

The Importance of Lake Mead

Lake Mead is the largest water reservoir in the United States. It serves around 25 million people across seven states and Mexico.

Concerns have grown as water levels dipped over the last few years, reaching the lowest level since the 1930s.

How Low Will It Go?

The US Bureau of Reclamation monitors the water level in Lake Mead. Water levels stood at 1,046 feet on March 8th, 2023. While the recorded water levels rose slightly last year due to slightly higher rainfall, this isn't far above the lowest point ever recorded in July of 2022, when Lake Mead was recorded at 1,040 feet.

Statista.com says "Lake Mead is considered at full capacity when water levels reach 1,220 feet above sea level, but it’s able to hold a maximum of 1,229 feet of water."

The last time Lake Mead approached capacity was back in the summer of 1983. The last time the lake was considered full was in 2000.

The Most Important Lake in Arizona

The dropping water level in Lake Mead is cause for serious concern, not just in Arizona, but throughout the West. Not only is the lake a hub for recreation and water supply, but the lake is also used to generate power for several states.

According to CNN.com, Lake Mead supplies approximately 90 percent of the Las Vegas water supply, plus it generates hydroelectric power for Arizona, California, and Nevada.

The Plan to Cut Usage

US Bureau of Reclamation is considering a plan to require states to formulate a plan to cut up to 25 percent of their water usage. That would be about 2 to 4 million acre-feet per year by 2025.

The plan is being proposed to prevent the minimal threshold known as the "dead pool", a point where the lake can no longer release water downstream or generate power because the lake's levels are too low.

Is Climate Change Making the Lake Mead Crisis Worse?

According to scientists, the crisis is made worse by the extreme heat of climate change, particularly the levels experienced across the West in recent months. According to CNN.com, Lake Mead loses around six feet of water simply due to evaporation each year, and the hotter it is, the worse the evaporation.

Six feet of water doesn't sound like a lot until you consider that it works out to a loss of around 300 billion gallons yearly. Nearly half of the annual evaporation happens in the heat of the summer from June to August.

The Most Important Lake in Arizona is in Crisis

Will the surrounding states strike a deal of cooperation amidst the changing conditions for Lake Mead, one of our most important water sources? The future of life in our desert may depend on it.