Lake Powell and Lake Mead have dropped to their lowest July levels in 30 years, and the full Colorado River system sits at just 33% of capacity.
Tag: Western water shortage
Severe and extreme drought gripped the Colorado River Basin in July 2026, as wildfires burned across parched Colorado and dry skies offered little relief.
A tough winter and rising summer heat keep drought locked across the Colorado River Basin, with only scattered relief in New Mexico and parts of Utah.
The Colorado River system sits at just 34% capacity. Seven states have missed every deadline. The federal government now has until October to act.
Spring runoff in Wyoming's North Platte Basin is forecast at just 21% of normal, threatening irrigation, power generation, and reservoir levels this summer.
[Video] Western Water Crisis: What’s actually happening right now
Colorado River negotiations stall as snowpack collapses and water pressure builds across the West, raising concerns about supply and future planning.