Water History – MyWaterEarth&Sky

The largest reservoir in the United States Lake Mead was formed when the Hoover Dam was built in the 1930s providing water and power to the Southwestern states of California, Nevada, and Arizona but in the last 2 decades have struggled to keep the water levels from falling recently up to 143 ft. that is 35% of normal capacity. Why is Lake Mead So Low? The Colorado River Basin is undergoing “aridification", a 21-year mega-drought that's ravished the Western USA, worsened by higher temperatures, growing population, shrinking flows from tributaries in the northern Colorado River watershed-lowering levels of Lake Powell that feed Lake Mead upriver. The demand for water has lead to problems at Lake Mead for years but this time coupled with Global Warming which could keep the capacity of the countries largest man-made Reservoir lower for a longer period of time. Is Lake Mead Drying Up Lake Meade is the Water Reservoir formed by the Hoover Dan it has sunk to all new low levels in the past 20 years. The lowest levels seen since the 1930s. The Southwestern United States has been under a 21-year drought creating massive problems in this huge Reservoir that feeds California, Nevada, and Arizona filling almost 95% from the year 2ooo to only 35% today. Mead Lake is the largest water reservoir in the country. These decreases in water levels at Lake Mead cause Drought, water shortages for consumption, agriculture, and energy shortages that the Hoover Dam site provides. These shortages have been created by drought and human consumption in the arid regions of the Southwest US. Basically, there is more water going out of Lake Mead than there is going in. The dam provides energy for over 1.3 million people in this area of the country. There are estimates of a 25% decrease in power available that normally is made at Hoover Dam directly because of the lower water levels at Lake Mead. The Electrical energy that Hoover Dam in Nevada provides California nearly 50% of its energy. Now dwindling to record lows as Lake Mead water level decrease lower and lower the turbines at the Hoover Dam spin slower and slower, reducing Hydroelectric power. At full levels in the reservoir, the Hoover Dam can generate enough hydropower to accommodate 1 million people. What really worries the people that operate and depend on this water system is the fact of warmer temperatures adding more of a factor to drought and over usage to this huge reservoir. Which evaporate more water creating more demand for the crippling system. A lot of people see Lake Mead as a microcosm of the problem of Water Scarcity in the world happening before their eyes. Ninety-six percent of the water flowing into Lake Mead comes from snowmelt that drains into the Colorado River. Early spring melt sends water surging through the river and into Lake Powell a man-made reservoir on the Colorado River in Utah and Arizona, United States. It is a major vacation spot visited by approximately two million people every year. It is the second-largest man-made reservoir by maximum water capacity in the United States behind its southern partner on the Colorado River, Lake Mead. Water from this man-made reservoir, Lake Powell then spills back over into the Colorado River running Southwest through the Grand Canyon feeding Lake Mead and Hoover Dam. Colorado River Watershed Map Lake Powell Utah's Lower Levels 51% capacity Lake Powell is a reservoir on the Colorado River, straddling the border between Utah and Arizona, United States. Most of Lake Powell, along with Rainbow Bridge National Monument, is located in Utah. Lake Powell sits at an elevation of 3,700 feet and is surrounded by a dramatic backdrop of deep sandstone walls. Lake Mohave is located south of the Hoover Dam along the Colorado River in the southern end of the Lake Mead National Recreation Area. It's known for its abundance of sandy coves and mix of the peaceful Black Canyon and high-octane open waters. With Lake Powell at 3,700 ft. in the north collecting snowmelt from upper Colorado in Utah Lake Mead drops in elevation of 1,112 feet the Mohave Reservoir is last at 647 feet in elevation keeps mighty Colorado River moving southward. Still, the amount of water in the system continues to drop. Lake Mead Water Level Today Current updated water levels at Lake Mead can be found here at Lake Mead Water DataBase this site includes an interactive detailed map and a ton of information and is the most complete set of Colorado River water-related information you can find on the web. This site started with Lake Powell and now includes Powell and 6 other major lakes on the Colorado River. To access the water databases and the other features we have developed, just use the navigation menu on the top. Simply select the area that you want to review and navigate the menu to the specific item you want to see, as you would in any other application. Try it out for yourself. Lower levels at Lake Mead 39% Capacity in Nevada at Hoover Dam's Turbines JimGallowayAuthor/Editor References: The USGS-The Colorado River Basin National Park Service-America's First National Recreational Area