Lake Mohave levels lowered for fish conservation

• Lake Mohave will drop about five feet by October 5.
• Drawdown supports razorback sucker conservation.
• Boaters should use caution during lower water levels.
• Water levels expected to rise again by late October.

Tuesday, August 26, 2025 — The Bureau of Reclamation announced yesterday that water levels at Lake Mohave are being temporarily lowered as part of an annual cycle that supports both flood management and fish conservation. The reservoir, located above Davis Dam on the Colorado River near Laughlin, Nevada, will gradually decline from 642.50 feet above sea level to about 637 feet by October 5. It will remain at that level for one week before starting to rise again. By the end of October, officials expect the lake to reach approximately 638 feet.

Endangered Fish at the Center of the Effort.

The drawdown coincides with the yearly harvest of razorback suckers, an endangered fish native to the Colorado River. Each fall, the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program collects tens of thousands of larvae from Lake Mohave. These young fish are transferred to state and federal hatcheries across the Southwest, where they grow until they are ready to be placed in lakeside rearing ponds. In the fall, the fish are gathered, tagged with microchips, and released back into Lake Mohave.

Multi-Agency Collaboration.

The conservation work is a joint project that includes Reclamation, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Park Service, and state wildlife agencies from Arizona and Nevada. The program is designed to balance the Colorado River’s water and power needs while protecting vulnerable species and their habitats.

Safety and Recreation.

Because the water levels are lower than normal, boaters are advised to navigate with caution, particularly in areas downstream of Hoover Dam where shallow conditions will be more pronounced. Updated information on current water levels at Lake Mohave and other Lower Colorado River reservoirs is available through the Bureau of Reclamation’s river operations website. Recreational details can be found through the National Park Service at Lake Mead National Recreation Area.

Image via Bureau of Reclamation news release:  Razorback Suckers

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