美国最大水库米德湖的水位已跌至近90年来的历史新低。[1]米德湖水位降至海拔1,040.4英尺，低于2022年7月28日此前创下的1,040.58英尺纪录。[1]这一危机源于科罗拉多河流域冬季创纪录的最低积雪量。[1]
科罗拉多河流域水资源短缺的影响范围广泛。[1]该河为美国7个州、印第安部落和墨西哥供应饮用水和灌溉水源，服务人口超过4000万。[1]为应对水位下降，加州、内华达州和亚利桑那州将分担水资源削减。[1]此外，米德湖和鲍威尔湖的水位均已创下近70年新低。[1]联邦官员宣布将不从格伦峡谷大坝释放鲍威尔湖冷水，以保护濒危的本地鱼类。[1]
Lake Mead, the nation's largest reservoir, has dropped to its lowest water level in 90 years, falling to an elevation of 1,040.4 feet on Friday, below the previous record low of 1,040.58 feet set on July 28, 2022.[1] The dramatic decline reflects an escalating crisis in the Colorado River system, which supplies water to over 40 million people across seven U.S. states, American Indian tribes, and Mexico.[1] The collapse in water levels stems from record-low winter snowfall in the Colorado River basin, threatening the region's water security amid ongoing drought conditions.[1]
Federal officials have announced immediate measures to address the emergency, including a decision to refrain from releasing cold water from Glen Canyon Dam to protect endangered native fish species in the system.[1] The states of California, Nevada, and Arizona will share responsibility for water reductions as part of the response strategy.[1] Both Lake Mead and Lake Powell, another major reservoir on the Colorado River, have now reached their lowest levels in nearly 70 years, underscoring the severity of the water crisis affecting the entire southwestern United States.[1]