美国最大水库米德湖的水位周五跌至1040.4英尺（317.1米），创近90年来的历史新低[1]。这一水位仅略低于2022年7月28日的历史记录[1]，反映出科罗拉多河流域面临的严峻水资源危机。
科罗拉多河系统为7个州、美国原住民部落和墨西哥约4000万人口供水，并灌溉数百万英亩农田[1]。科罗拉多河流域主席JB Hamby指出，"这极其重要也极其令人担忧"[1]，约3000万人直接受到米德湖水位危险的影响[1]。导致水位持续下降的因素包括长期过度使用、持续干旱，以及过去冬季融雪量创历史最低纪录[1]。
为应对危机，联邦政府提出短期方案要求亚利桑那州、加州和内华达州减少用水[1]，并预期在未来数周发布最终决策记录[1]。与此同时，西部地区的水资源短缺问题更趋严峻，54个西部水库中有9个近期创30年来最低水位纪录[1]。
Lake Mead, the nation's largest reservoir, has plummeted to its lowest water level in 90 years, reaching 1,040.4 feet on Friday—just slightly below the record low set on July 28, 2022.[1] The dramatic decline reflects an escalating water crisis across the Colorado River Basin, which supplies water to approximately 40 million people across seven states, tribal nations, and Mexico, while also irrigating millions of acres of farmland.[1]
The crisis stems from a combination of prolonged overuse, persistent drought, and inadequate snowmelt, which have systematically depleted the river system's two major reservoirs.[1] Last winter saw the Colorado River Basin record its lowest snowmelt volume in history.[1] About 30 million people face direct risks from Lake Mead's declining levels, according to Colorado River Basin Chairman JB Hamby, who characterized the situation as "extremely important and extremely concerning."[1] Beyond Lake Mead, nine of the West's 54 major reservoirs have recently hit their lowest levels in 30 years.[1]
In response, federal authorities have proposed a short-term plan requiring Arizona, California, and Nevada to reduce water consumption.[1] The federal government is expected to issue its final decision record on these measures within the coming weeks.[1] However, experts have warned that even these interventions may prove insufficient to adequately address the underlying crisis.[1]