LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — NASA has published new photographs taken from space of the drastic water loss seen at Lake Mead over the last 22 years.
The natural-color images above were acquired on July 6, 2000, and July 3, 2022, by Landsat 7 and Landsat 8. The detailed images below also include a view from Landsat 8 on July 8, 2021 (middle).

Lake Mead and much of the Colorado River basin have been experiencing a 22-year drought. As of July 19, 2022, the water elevation at the Hoover Dam was 1040.99 feet above sea level; the water elevation at the end of July 2000 (around the time of the Landsat 7 image above) was 1199.97 feet.


Above Lake Mead, Lake Powell is currently filled to just 27% of capacity, and the entire Colorado river system stands at 35%.
Click the image below to see a higher resolution photograph.

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