As of early July 2025, Lake Mead and Lake Powell remain at alarmingly low levels, continuing a trend of concern for water managers, agriculture, and millions of residents in the Southwest.
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On July 2, 2025, Lake Mead’s water level was 1,054.89 feet above mean sea level, which is 174.11 feet below its full pool of 1,229 feet139.
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The level has recently plateaued after months of decline, but it is still tracking slightly below 2024 and closely aligns with the low levels of 202313.
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The lowest recorded level was 1,041 feet in July 2022; current forecasts suggest the lake will stay just above 1,050 feet by year’s end, making a new record low unlikely this year2.
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Despite a mild spring rise from snowmelt, the reservoir is expected to continue declining through the summer due to high temperatures and increased water demand23.
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On July 1, 2025, Lake Powell’s water level was 3,561.06 feet above mean sea level, 138.94 feet below its full pool of 3,700 feet13.
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Powell saw a moderate recovery in May and June from snowmelt, but the peak came earlier and lower than in 2024, and levels have begun to drop again as inflows taper off and outflows to Lake Mead increase13.
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The current level is higher than in 2023 but below the highs of 2024, reflecting weaker inflows and persistent drought conditions134.
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Both lakes are far below historical averages—in the early 2000s, they were at 95% capacity2.
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The combined storage of the two reservoirs is only about one-third of capacity, a slight improvement from the 25% seen in 2022 but still critically low256.
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The disappointing 2025 winter snowpack (only 88% of average) is a key factor in the subdued runoff and lack of robust recovery5.
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Water authorities warn that, with peak summer evaporation and demand underway, levels will likely continue to drop, putting further strain on water supply, hydropower generation, and agriculture across the region1235.
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Ongoing drought, climate variability, and high usage continue to challenge the Colorado River system, and experts emphasize the need for conservation and long-term water management strategies5.
In summary, Lake Mead and Lake Powell are both critically low and declining, with no immediate risk of new record lows this year, but with persistent threats to water security and regional infrastructure if current trends continue1235.
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVQ1UID_hw4
- https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2025/06/28/water-crisis-update-lakes-mead-powell-hit-alarmingly-low-levels/84384030007/
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmXSth3nJ_k
- https://www.reddit.com/r/climatechange/comments/1kldb21/the_decline_of_lake_mead_continues/
- https://www.newsweek.com/warning-issued-lake-mead-lake-powell-water-levels-2056194
- https://www.newsweek.com/topic/lake-mead
- https://arachnoid.com/NaturalResources/
- https://lakepowell.water-data.com
- https://mead.uslakes.info/level.asp
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