Lake Mead Reservoir Water & Power Elevation Model RECORD LOW

Bureau of Reclamation Bathymetric & Hoover Hydropower Operating Envelope
Reservoir Elevation Control
Datum: USBR NGVD29
Water Surface Elevation
1,039.4 ft MSL
Distance to Dead Pool
+144.4 ft
895' (Dead Pool) 950' (Min Power) 1050' 1220' (Full)
Hydrological Threshold Presets:
Tier 2B Shortage Condition -180.6 ft Head
Active Storage 7.02 MAF 27.1% Capacity
Hoover Hydropower 1,380 MW 33.3% Derated
Total Shortage Cuts 617,000 AF DCP + '07 Interim
Hydraulic Head 409.4 ft Tailwater 630 ft
Lower Basin State Delivery Reductions
Basin Entity Normal Apport. Cutback (AF/yr) Net Delivery
Hoover Dam & Lake Mead Bathymetric Profile
Drag water line or scrub slider
Active Water Body
Dead Pool (895 ft)
Min Power Pool (950 ft)
Upper Intake (1,050 ft)
Forward Mass-Balance Trajectory Engine
Glen Canyon Release × Consumptive Demand
Net Annual Storage Delta: -0.87 MAF/yr (-11.2 ft/yr)
Projected Months to Dead Pool: ~154 Mos

Lake Mead Operational Hydrology Brief

Operational Crisis Context: Lake Mead is the largest reservoir by volume in the United States, formed by Hoover Dam. As reported by Reuters, dropping below 1,040 ft triggers intense conservation operations and approaches the Tier 3 shortage threshold (1,025 ft).

Critical Elevation Datums:
  • 1,220.0 ft: Top of Spillway Gates (Full Pool active cap: ~25.9 MAF)
  • 1,075.0 ft: Tier 1 Shortage Trigger (AZ: 192k AF, NV: 8k AF, MX: 41k AF)
  • 1,050.0 ft: Tier 2A Shortage Trigger / Upper Intake Tower Deactivation
  • 1,045.0 ft: Tier 2B Shortage Trigger (Sub-1,040' condition)
  • 1,025.0 ft: Tier 3 Shortage (AZ: 720k AF, NV: 30k AF, CA: 200k AF, MX: 150k AF)
  • 950.0 ft: Minimum Power Pool (Hoover generation halts, risk of turbine vortex cavitation)
  • 895.0 ft: Dead Pool (Water cannot pass downstream without low-level pumping)
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