Lake Mead || File photo
By Robyn White || Newsweek
California and Nevada have had extremely heavy rainfall in recent days, during one of the severest droughts the region has ever seen.
So what does that mean for the water levels at Lake Mead?
Lake Mead’s water levels are rapidly declining due to the drought. The reservoir—which stretches across Nevada and Arizona, on the Colorado River—is relied upon by 25 million people living in the region. It’s formed by the Hoover Dam, which generates electricity for the surrounding communities.
During the summer, the lake’s water levels hit a new low at 1,040 feet—this was the lowest since its construction in the 1930s.
Experts predict that in a few years, the lake’s water levels could be as low as 895 feet, which would be too low to flow past the dam.
So, the rain has undoubtedly been a welcome water source for the lake. And Lake Mead’s water levels are currently 0.3 percent higher than originally predicted in December, the Bureau of Reclamation said, according to a News Now report.
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