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Lake Mead's Low Levels Spark Water Crisis Warnings

1/5/2026

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Story summary
  • Lake Mead's water levels are at 33 percent, signaling a critical shortage for California, Nevada, and Arizona.
  • Lake Mead's storage is about 8.6 million acre-feet, roughly 53 percent of the seasonal average.
  • Experts warn the Colorado River system is under stress because storage is lower than last year, signaling tough decisions.
  • Meteorologists predict rain and snow in California, but future precipitation will not match the recent amounts.