Lake Mead water level nearing threshold for 70% cut to Hoover Dam hydropower output

Some day in the next 12 months—maybe in late August, maybe not until next spring— Lake Mead will drop below the critical threshold of 1,035 feet above sea level. That is the water-level elevation at which hydropower generating capacity at Hoover Dam, the largest in the Colorado River basin, will be…

First covered Jun 12, 2026 · 9:33 AM PT · 1 article · no longer in the live window

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14d Inside Climate News Hoover Dam Approaches a Hydropower Cliff — Some day in the next 12 months—maybe in late August, maybe not until next spring— Lake Mead will drop below the critical threshold of 1,035 feet above sea…

Appeared in: 2026-06-12 (#13) · 2026-06-13 (#20)

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