Lake Powell Reaches Record Low, Threatening California's Water and Power Supply
Lake Powell, a critical Colorado River reservoir, has fallen to its lowest recorded level, reaching an elevation of 3,519.91 feet above sea level. This new record, set on Saturday, surpasses the previous low from April 2023. The reservoir has dropped over 20 feet since the beginning of the year and is now approximately 30 feet above the minimum level required for its turbines to generate hydroelectric power. Federal officials issued a warning in April, indicating that a 'major intervention' might be necessary to prevent Lake Powell from reaching this critical threshold before the year's end. This decline follows a similar record low for Lake Mead, the Colorado River's other major reservoir, about a week prior. Both reservoirs are vital components of a river system that supplies water and power to over 40 million people across seven Western states, including California, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming, and Colorado. 
