Water officials have raised concerns about the water levels in Lake Mead and Lake Powell, following a disappointing winter snowpack that threatens to stall progress made during last year’s wetter-than-average season.
Why It Matters
These lakes are crucial for water supply across the Southwest, and while gains have been made in previous years, storage remains a concern due to ongoing drought impacts and high water demands.
The Colorado River also irrigates some five million acres of land.
What To Know
The latest government data reveals that water levels in both reservoirs remain below critical thresholds, reinforcing long-term challenges facing the Colorado River Basin.
According to the April 2025 Nevada Water Supply Outlook Report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Upper Colorado Basin’s snowpack is underperforming, at 88 percent of average level.
“Most reservoirs important to northern Nevada are storing near normal to well above normal amounts for this time of year,” the report states.
“Combined storage in Lake Powell and Lake Mead is down 691 [thousand-acre-feet] from this time last year, with storage at 33 percent of capacity.”
The lakes provide water to tens of millions of people across the U.S. Southwest and Mexico, support agricultural operations, and generate hydroelectric power.
Earlier estimates suggested Lake Mead would begin 2025 below the 1,075 foot level that triggers mandatory conservation measures under federal drought contingency plans.
Similarly, Lake Powell was expected to be just above the minimum needed for Glen Canyon Dam to produce full hydroelectric output.
Snowpack and runoff remain highly variable, and continued conservation and long-term planning are essential, the report warns.
What People Are Saying
The report’s summary reads: “The winter of 2025 hasn’t measured up to 2024 and is far short of the records set in 2023. Despite that the eastern Sierra and northern Nevada are still in good shape as we move into snowmelt season.
“Eastern Nevada is a mixed bag with better mountain snowpack conditions near Austin, Eureka and Ely, but well below normal snow in Great Basin National Park.
“Southern Nevada should expect a lean water year with less than normal streamflow predicted for the Virgin River and the Colorado River inflow to Lake Powell.”
What Happens Next
Meanwhile, another recent study suggests that increasing wastewater recycling to 40 percent in states within the basin could conserve nearly 900,000 acre-feet of Colorado River water annually, enough to supply almost two million households. The authors advocate for policy actions such as new federal reuse guidelines, standardized reporting, and expanded grant programs to promote water recycling.
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