Lake Mead's intake valve #1, which no longer takes water as levels have receeded, is seen in Lake Mead, Nevada, on August 21, 2026. In mid-July, the combined water levels of Lake Powell and Lake Mead, the two largest reservoirs in the United States and both fed by the Colorado River, reached their lowest levels in over 60 years. The Colorado River provides drinking water for more than 40 million people and fuels hydropower across seven states. The bathtub ring of Lake Mead, which now hovers 186 feet (57 meters) above the surface of the water is a vivid illustration of the reality of a changing climate. Both lakes are dangerously close to the threshold where electricity generation would be affected. (Photo by Frederic J. BROWN / AFP via Getty Images)