The recent rains in southern Nevada, where "recent" can refer to a stretch of the past lasting more than a decade, haven’t helped Lake Mead. In fact, the largest man-made reservoir in the United States is now the lowest its been since 1937, while it was still filling after the completion of Hoover Dam.
The previous lowest level was recorded was more than 54 years ago on April 26, 1956, when a long drought dropped the lake’s surface to 1,083.19 feet (above sea level). But in mid-October, the lake level fell below even that.
The current drought is 11 years and counting, with the lake losing water since 1999, during which time the surface has plunged almost 130 feet, wreaking havoc with beaches, marinas, road builders, and the water company.
The lake is still eight feet above the official shortage level, at which point limited rationing could go into effect in Nevada and Arizona; this would force federal officials to cut Nevada's share of the reservoir water by about 6%. To avoid that, the Bureau of Reclamation is planning to increase the amount of water delivered to Lake Mead from Lake Powell; however, water must also be released through Hoover Dam to meet downstream demand from Arizona and California.
Las Vegas receives 90% of its drinking water from intake pipes that will be severely affected if Lake Mead drops another 33 feet.
Worse, according to climate forecasters, abnormally dry conditions in Colorado River watershed will prevail for at least the next two winters.
