The Colorado River, a lifeline for over 40 million people across the American Southwest, is facing an unprecedented crisis. At the center of this crisis are Lake Powell and Lake Mead, the two largest reservoirs in the United States, both hovering at critically low levels as of mid-February 2026. Lake Powell, created by Glen Canyon Dam, is currently at approximately 3,533 feet above sea level—about 167 feet below full pool—and holds only about 24% of its total capacity.