The mega-drought affecting the Western US is reaching a pivotal moment in 2026, as the Colorado River faces emergency conditions for the third year in a row and snowpack levels in significant mountain ranges are alarmingly low. Lake Mead is significantly below its historical levels, leading to reductions in water supply for farmers in California, Arizona, Nevada, and Utah. Scientists from the US Geological Survey characterize this trend as indicative of a lasting dry climate in the American West, impacting 40 million individuals.
