Lake Powell and Lake Mead water levels hit record lows

NPR | By Ava Berger

Published August 15, 2026 at 5:49 PM EDT

The water levels of Lakes Powell and Mead are at record lows. What does that mean for the millions of people who rely on the country's two biggest reservoirs and the Colorado River that feeds them?

Related Content

Hurricane Lala strengthens as it heads to Hawaii

Bill Dorman

Hurricane Lala is headed toward Hawaii's Big Island. If it makes landfall there, it'd be the first hurricane to do so since 1871.
The Midwest braces for more heavy flooding, as Indiana seeks federal aid

Laura Sullivan

Indiana, Illinois and surrounding states are preparing for another stretch of flooding through this weekend.
Families of USS Lincoln crew say Trump should be 'ashamed' of conditions on board

Ava Pukatch

President Trump said the USS Abraham Lincoln deployment is "not nearly long enough." A family member of a sailor on board that ship said those comments are shameful.
Trump administration wants to allow companies to hack foreign cybercriminals

Henry Larson

The White House memorandum is thin on details, but it aims to give private businesses the ability to sabotage or spy on certain foreign actors.
Jason Arday, Cambridge professor accused of plagiarism, is found dead

The Associated Press

Arday was 37 when he became Cambridge's youngest Black professor in 2023. He was found unresponsive Friday at a home in southwest London.

You make NHPR possible.

NHPR is nonprofit and independent. We rely on readers like you to support the local, national, and international coverage on this website. Your support makes this news available to everyone.

Give today. A monthly donation of $5 makes a real difference.