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As drought conditions intensify across the West, the country's largest reservoir has dropped to its lowest level on record. Lake Mead's water level has been in decline since 2000, an effect of the region's 20-year drought. As of last week, the reservoir hit a record of 140 feet below "full," a level not seen since it was first filled in the 1930s.
The record low comes ahead of a week of extreme temperatures sweeping the Southwest. 72% of the region is in a "severe" drought, and conditions continue to worsen. A dry winter and early warm temperatures are depleting snowpack, which usually releases water into the Colorado River watershed throughout the summer. As a result, water restrictions are expected, particularly in the area surrounding Lake Mead. This will be the first time that a water shortage will trigger mandatory cuts in Arizona and Nevada, which will have significant impacts on the states' metropolitan areas. Las Vegas receives 90% of its water from Lake Mead, and the lake is the main source of water for 25 million people.
Dropping water levels could impact the region's energy supply, with insufficient water supply affecting the efficiency of hydropower produced by the Hoover Dam. If water levels continue to drop, it is likely that the dam will be unable to produce hydropower year-round in the near future.
Biden administration reinstates roadless rule in Tongass National Forest
On Friday, the Biden administration announced plans to restore protections for Alaska's Tongass National Forest. The forest was stripped of 20-year old protections under the "roadless rule" in the final months of the Trump administration. Last week's action will reinstate protections that restrict roads and other types of development across 9.3 million acres of forest.
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It’s pretty hard to argue with a conservation framework that promotes job creation; makes our communities more resilient to floods, drought and climate change; protects our air and water; and ensures that our children and our grandchildren will be able to enjoy our vast grasslands and the wildlife heritage that we inherited.”
