Lake Mead may reach lower water level in late 2027

The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation projects Lake Mead's elevation at about 1,036.5 feet at the end of November 2027, a level lower than recent end-of-month records. The reservoir is currently reported at 33% capacity with roughly 8.7 million acre-feet in storage as states prepare to renegotiate Colorado River agreements that expire at the end of 2026.

Federal projections from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation show a lower outlook for Lake Mead. The agency projects the reservoir's elevation at about 1,036.5 feet at the end of November 2027. Lake Mead is part of the Colorado River system that supplies water and irrigation to many communities across the West. Several agreements governing the river's operations are set to expire at the end of 2026 as states work on new management plans. Key facts: - The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation projects Lake Mead's elevation at about 1,036.5 feet at the end of November 2027, according to the latest forecast. - Official data report Lake Mead at roughly 33 percent full, with about 8.7 million acre-feet in storage and about 53 percent of the average level for the date. - Recent hydrologic data show poor snowpack and dry soils, which contribute to well-below-normal water supply forecasts for the Colorado River. - Multiple management agreements that regulate Colorado River operations are set to expire at the end of 2026, and federal officials have outlined several options for coordinating storage and operations as states negotiate. Summary: The projection would place Lake Mead at a lower end-of-month elevation than recorded in recent years and reflects continuing stress in the Colorado River system. States and federal agencies are moving toward renegotiation of management plans and have presented option frameworks as deadlines approach; Undetermined at this time.