Lake Mead water levels drop closer to dead pool status

Water levels at Lake Mead dropped to historic lows this week with persistent drought exacerbated by climate change and increased water demands driving the reservoir closer to becoming a “dead pool.”

The nation’s largest reservoir on Thursday measured at 1,043.8 feet, its lowest level since the lake was filled in the 1930s.

The minimum elevation to generate power at Hoover Dam is 1,050 feet, according to the National Park Service. Below this level, the reservoir would be considered an “inactive pool.” However, Patti Aaron, public affairs officer for the Bureau of Reclamation’s Lower Colorado region told the Boulder City Review back in May that Hoover Dam will still be able to produce hydropower below this level. She stated the new threshold where the dam would no longer be able to produce power is at 950 feet.

Should the water levels fall below 895 feet, the reservoir will become a dead pool, meaning water levels will be too low to reach the lowest water outlet at Hoover Dam and flow downstream.

By NC ScoutPublished On: June 25, 2022Categories: Uncategorized7 Comments

About the Author: NC Scout

NC Scout is the nom de guerre of a former Infantry Scout and Sergeant in one of the Army’s best Reconnaissance Units. He has combat tours in both Iraq and Afghanistan. He teaches a series of courses focusing on small unit skills rarely if ever taught anywhere else in the prepping and survival field, including his RTO Course which focuses on small unit communications. In his free time he is an avid hunter, bushcrafter, writer, long range shooter, prepper, amateur radio operator and Libertarian activist. He can be contacted at [email protected] or via his blog at brushbeater.wordpress.com .

7 Comments

idahobob June 25, 2022 at 09:20

Oh dear, what ever will the people of LA do?
- 2nd? Right or RESPONSIBILITY? June 25, 2022 at 16:21
  
  They can drink piss for all I care.
James Carpenter aka "Felix" June 25, 2022 at 09:28

The weatherman and Klaus Schwab are in cahoots – or might as well be.
Slow-motion disaster for the American Southwest – and it will send ripples out to everyone on this continent.
JL June 25, 2022 at 09:48

Ozymandias also built his empire in a desert. Here is what the poet Shelley wrote:
“And on the pedestal these words appear:
‘My name is Ozymandias, king of kings:
Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!’
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare
The lone and level sands stretch far away.”
Sand Sock June 25, 2022 at 10:37

Shut off fuel to California and keep draining it till they find jimmy Hoffa. Alot of the countries problems will fix themselves in 30 days.

Make California a desert again
MTHead June 25, 2022 at 14:28

And they keep the floodgate open how far? I find it hard to believe lake Mead is dropping that fast with flows at bare minimums? Note certain natural lakes like Tahoe are doing fine. I find it hard to believe that Cali. and Vegas are using that much more water than passed years. There’s always a drought going on in the west. And the one in the mid 70’s was worse than anything seen since the turn of the century.
Reservoirs are being drained on propose. Climate change is a power grab. And this is just part of it.
Not So Free June 25, 2022 at 21:03

Isn’t CA releasing water into the Pacific to “protect” some fish or bug or something?
It really wouldn’t take much to shut the water off to LA. (or so I’ve heard)