In the Southwest, three major reservoirs now sit closer to “dead pool” than any others in the country. A reservoir reaches dead pool when its water level falls so low that water can no longer flow downstream through the dam’s outlets. At that point, water deliveries can be disrupted and the dam may no longer be able to generate hydropower.

Elephant Butte Nears Empty

One of the most striking examples is Elephant Butte Reservoir, the largest reservoir in New Mexico. Located along the Rio Grande, the reservoir plays an important role in a region where water is already a precious resource.

As of mid-July 2026, Elephant Butte had fallen to just 2–3% of capacity. The consequences of such low water levels extend well beyond the reservoir itself. Elephant Butte provides irrigation water for hundreds of thousands of acres of farmland in New Mexico and Texas and supplies a portion of El Paso’s water.

Low reservoir levels can also affect recreation and local communities that depend on visitors coming to the lake. As shorelines retreat, boat ramps and marinas can become difficult or impossible to use, changing how people are able to access and enjoy the water.

Lake Powell and Lake Mead Remain Critically Low

Elephant Butte isn’t alone. Lake Powell and Lake Mead, two of the largest and best-known reservoirs in the United States, also remain at historically low levels.

Both are part of the Colorado River system, a water source relied upon by approximately 40 million people and more than five million acres of agricultural land.

In July, Lake Powell was at roughly 27% of capacity. Its water level was about 70 feet above the elevation at which Glen Canyon Dam would no longer be able to generate hydropower.

Farther downstream, Lake Mead was also around 27% full. The reservoir stores water used by communities, farms and businesses in Arizona, California, Nevada and Mexico, while Hoover Dam uses water released from Lake Mead to generate electricity.

Years of drought, combined with the enormous demand placed on the Colorado River, have left both reservoirs far below the levels they once routinely reached.

The Effects Reach Beyond the Southwest

Drought isn’t only a concern in the desert Southwest. This summer’s conditions across other parts of the country are another reminder of how closely our communities are tied to reliable water supplies.

Lower water levels can affect agriculture, drinking water, hydropower and recreation, but they can also change the waterways themselves. Reduced flows and shallower water can lead to warmer water temperatures and changes in water quality and aquatic habitat. Fish and other aquatic organisms may have less suitable habitat available, while recreational access can become more difficult.

Reservoirs are designed to capture water during wetter periods and make it available when conditions turn dry. But when drought continues year after year, even enormous reservoirs have limits.

The conditions at Elephant Butte, Lake Powell and Lake Mead offer a striking reminder that the health and availability of our water resources cannot be taken for granted. Whether it’s a massive reservoir in the Southwest or a lake or river closer to home, reliable water supplies are essential to communities, agriculture, recreation, wildlife and healthy aquatic ecosystems.

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Upcoming Conferences

• New Hampshire Lakes Lakes Congress
• Maine Lakes & Lake Stewards Annual Conference

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The visit was part of the Naval Staff College professional development program at the U.S. Naval War College in Rhode Island. Naval officers representing 30 countries, including Senegal, Malaysia, Norway, Colombia and Timor-Leste, are taking part, traveling across the country to learn more about American life.

But water, of course, is universal. During the officers’ morning at the Global Water Center – headquarters of The Water Council – they learned what private companies, NGOs (nongovernmental organizations) and universities are doing to address worldwide water crises.

Officers heard from Aquarius Systems, a member of The Water Council that makes surface water management equipment. Jane Dauffenbach explained how machines such as aquatic vegetation cutters, trash skimmers and amphibious excavators help communities all over the world clear the surfaces of lakes and rivers, allowing them to continue using the water for drinking, irrigation and hydropower.

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Officials say that between 6,000 and 8,000 cubic meters of waste are pulled out of the river each year. At the Visegrad dam, efforts began to clear away the clogging garbage and to avoid potential damage to the power system.

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The Aqueduct and Sewer Authority began its plan to remove and compost the aquatic vegetation from the reservoir as part of a project to improve the use and rendering of water for the 140,000 clients that are they serve as the dam.

The Aquarius Systems Aquatic Weed Harvester is removing about 4,000 cubic yards of water hyacinth weekly, which is then taken to composting facilities. Compost is a sustainable alternative to avoid the accumulation of vegetative material in landfills, whose capacity is already compromised.

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Currently, about 50% of Vermont’s electricity is tied to HydroQuebec’s massive hydropower operations north of the border.  But environmentalists say the state is greenwashing power that has resulted in catastrophic damage to ecosystems, significant releases of carbon emissions from submerged trees and the displacement of indigenous communities in northern Quebec. HydroQuebec’s 550 dikes and dams have destroyed 3.8 million acres of native lands across Quebec.

Scientists and experts are critical of counting HydroQuebec power as a renewable source because it comes at an enormous price. Shallow reservoirs that cover vast woodland areas can be extremely dirty from a carbon emissions point of view. That’s because when a dam is first constructed large areas of land are flooded, and trees that once captured carbon start to decompose under the water, releasing carbon into the atmosphere.

As these underwater forests decay, carbon continues to be emitted into the atmosphere, HydroQuebec says it takes a tree 10 years to decay while researchers feel more realistic numbers are between 30 and 50 years to remove the carbon stored in water logged trees. A newly constructed dam emits more greenhouse gasses than a 100-year old dam.

Beyond greenhouse gas emissions, there are other environmental and human impacts associated with flooding thousands of acres of land to create large hydro projects. The reservoirs made it impossible for Tribes to continue traditional hunting and fishing practices, such as following sturgeon up river during the spring spawning season. The raising and lowering of the water level triggers a bacterial conversion of mercury turning it into a lethal neurotoxin that is now accumulating in the food chain.

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