The Lake Mead Water Crisis Explained

An article by Alexandria Icenhower and Shawn Dar explains that the recent record low levels achieved by Lake Mead amidst the ongoing drought affecting the Western United States "will continue to have consequences for states like Arizona, California, and Nevada that draw their water supply from Lake Mead."

To put the record in perspective, Icenhower and Dar share insights into a new video by Brookings Nonresident Senior Fellow Pat Mulroy, who is also the former general manager of the Southern Nevada Water Authority. Among the facts explained in the video, also embedded below, are the critical stats on how much water the Lake Mead holds at capacity, how much its holding now, the preparation the Southern Nevada Water Authority has already taken to prepare for the worst possible drought scenarios, and the culture change that will still be required to weather the ongoing, historic drought.

In a separate article, John M. Glionna provides more details on the record setting low levels of Lake Mead.