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Lake Mead Water Levels Drop Again as Snow Drought Takes Over Western U.S.

Learn more about the snow drought impacting the western U.S. and what that means for vital water sources.

ByMonica Cull
(Credit: TFoxFoto/Shutterstock) TFoxFoto/Shutterstock

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Lake Mead and Lake Powell could be in for another record year for low water levels as a snow drought persists throughout the Western U.S.

With minimal snowfall in the last two months, the Colorado snowpack will likely not provide an abundant water supply to the lakes. And the snow drought could impact crucial drinking water sources.

Lake Mead and Lake Powell are crucial reservoirs that provide water to several states, including California, Nevada, Arizona, and New Mexico, and include major cities such as Las Vegas. On top of that, the lakes are a major source of recreation in the area and generate millions of dollars for the local economy.

According to the National Park Service, the Lake Mead National Recreational Area generated $358 million in 2023, a $15 million increase from the year before. In 2022, Lake Mead saw its lowest levels on record, dropping to 1040.92 feet, which ...

  • Monica Cull

    A graduate of UW-Whitewater, Monica Cull wrote for several organizations, including one that focused on bees and the natural world, before coming to Discover Magazine. Her current work also appears on her travel blog and Common State Magazine. Her love of science came from watching PBS shows as a kid with her mom and spending too much time binging Doctor Who.

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