2 largest US reservoirs hit record lows amid western drought

The Colorado River, a vital resource for 40 million people, has reached record low levels in the two largest U.S. reservoirs it feeds, Lake Powell and Lake Mead, due to a severe drought in the American West. These reservoirs, formed by massive dams, supply water year-round and generate electricity. As of Sunday, Lake Powell's water level reached 3,519.80 feet above sea level, barely above the threshold that could impact electricity production.

On Friday, Lake Mead's level dropped to 1,039.70 feet above sea level. The two states most dependent on the river, California, Arizona, and Nevada, have been at odds over water distribution, leading the Trump administration to intervene with a plan that could require these states to cut their water usage by up to 3.7 billion cubic meters per year until 2036.