Water Crisis
Lake Mead & Lake Powell 2026: America's Most Critical Reservoirs and the Western Water War
Two lakes that supply water to 40 million Americans have been transformed by the worst megadrought in 1,200 years.
33%
Lake Mead at just 33% capacity in 2022 — its lowest since filling in the 1930s. A 143-foot "bathtub ring" exposed decades of water loss
Source: Bureau of Reclamation
Colorado River
The Colorado River Is Overallocated by 3 Million Acre-Feet Per Year
The 1922 Colorado River Compact divided water that didn't exist.
55%
Lake Powell recovered to ~55% capacity by 2025 after record snowpack — but remains vulnerable to renewed drought
Source: USBR 2026
Saving Water
$4 Billion Federal Deal Pays Farmers to Use Less Colorado River Water
buying critical time while states negotiate a new 2026 operating agreement.
40M
Americans in 7 US states depend on Colorado River water for drinking, farming, and electricity from Hoover Dam
Source: Bureau of Reclamation
The New West
Renegotiating the West: A New Colorado River Deal by 2026
with conservation, recycling, and climate-smart agriculture at the center.
Water Data
Lake Mead & Powell: How Much Water America's Reservoirs Actually Hold
together serving 40 million Americans.
Infrastructure
Glen Canyon Dam's Future: Operating in an Era of Permanent Low Water
New adaptive management protocols allow power generation at lower water levels.
Water Rights
Seven States, One River: The Colorado Compact Under Pressure
The 1922 Colorado River Compact divided 15 million acre-feet of water among seven states.
Conservation
Demand Management: The West Must Learn to Use Less Water
Southern Nevada uses less water today than in 1990 despite 50% population growth.