Federal Government Announces First-Ever Water Shortage in Lake Mead, Colorado River

The federal government declared a water shortage for Lake Mead and the Colorado River, meaning that individual states will have water allocations cut starting in January. This first-ever shortage declaration for the Colorado River comes after Lake Mead, the largest reservoir in the US by volume, has drained at an alarming rate this year. At around 1,067 feet above sea level and 35% full, the Colorado River reservoir is at its lowest since the lake was filled  after the Hoover Dam was completed in the 1930s.

Lake Mead will operate under shortage status for the entirety of calendar 2022. Click here  to learn more. AWE will continue to closely monitor this situation and work to equip our member utilities in the Colorado River Basin with tools and resources to combat drought and conserve water.