1. Colorado River Reservoirs Hit Record Lows as New Operating Framework Takes Shape Lake Mead and Lake Powell have both dropped to their lowest levels since they were initially filled, and together hold less water than at any point since before Lake Powell existed. The Bureau of Reclamation released a final environmental impact statement for post-2026 Colorado River operations, identifying a preferred adaptive 10-year framework (2027–2036) that will reopen operating guidelines every two years rather than locking in a single long-term plan. For California, the lower basin states tentatively agreed to 1.25 million acre-feet of annual reductions, with California absorbing 440,000 acre-feet. Critically for Metropolitan's stored water, the new rules may improve access to Intentionally Created Surplus (ICS) at low lake elevations — under current rules, ICS deliveries would be completely blocked below 1,025 feet at Lake Mead, but the new framework creates a conditional delivery window down to 1,000 feet. The Record of Decision and 2027–2028 guidelines had not yet been signed as of this meeting and were expected imminently.
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