Monday marked the first-ever water shortage at Lake Mead. The nation’s largest reservoir by volume has fallen to record lows after a decades-long drought. Arizona, Nevada, and Mexico will be subject to water restrictions beginning in January. Arizona's annual allotment will be reduced by 18%. More than 40 million people rely on the Colorado River for water and electricity. It also serves as a source of food for nearly 2.5 million acres of cropland. Reservoirs in the Colorado River Basin dropped to their lowest levels on record this summer. In just five years, Lake Mead and Lake Powell have lost 50% of their capacity.
