What record-low water levels at the Hoover Dam reservoir look like from space

Photo by George Rose/Getty Images

The largest water storage in the US is in a poor state. What is it really like? The difference between July 2000 and July 2022, shown in the new satellite images, is stark.

The last time the lake was empty was in 1937 when it was being filled for the first time. At 27 percent capacity, it is just. The last time it was close to full capacity was in 1999.

Image: NASA Earth Observatory / Lauren Dauphin and Image: NASA Earth Observatory / Lauren Dauphin

On July 18th, 2022, the water elevation at the Hoover Dam was 1,041 feet. It will affect the dam's ability to operate its hydropower turbine if it drops below 1000 feet. The dam provides power to 1.3 million people.

There are other problems at the lake. It was the first time in the history of the Colorado River system that a water shortage had been declared. There are forty million people who depend on the system for water. The lake's water level was 1,071.57 feet. By next summer, the water elevation is predicted to drop another 20 feet.

Climate change has caused long-term dry spells. NASA plotted out what that looked like over the past two decades. According to the US Drought Monitor, more than 80% of the Western US is currentlyabnormally dry. More than a third of the region is in some kind of dry spell.

Image: NASA Earth Observatory / Lauren Dauphin

There is a bathtub ring that has been left behind by the water that has left the lake. You can see it in the images below, but you have to zoom in to see the full effect. Where the high mark used to be, there are places where water left behind calcium carbonate and other minerals can be seen.

Image: NASA Earth Observatory / Lauren Dauphin

Treasure hunts and even murder mysteries are being sparked by the lower water levels. The Washington Post reports that a body found in a barrel is believed to be that of a mob hit in the 1980's. Las Vegas is a short distance away. The tourists are looking for jewelry and other valuables at the lake. If they can get on the water, five of the six boat ramps are closed and cars are stuck in the mud.