Lake Mead, the reservoir for drinking water in Las Vegas, is in trouble. The city and its suburbs have long been challenged by a limited water supply, but the very real effects of climate change are exacerbating and accelerating already dry conditions. The region's 2 million residents depend almost entirely on the Colorado River, yet its lake-stored flows are set to dwindle significantly in the next few decades.
Located about 30 miles from the city's downtown, Lake Mead's depth has sunk to perilously low levels— to around 1,080 ft now from about 1,200 ft in 2000.