Lake Mead plummets to unprecedented low, exposing original 1971 water intake valve

[hatrack]

3. Let's see . . . dead pool for Mead is 895 fasl

Reported elevations for full storage capacity (“full pool” ) of Lake Mead can vary. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) reports a high water line of 1,229.0 feet but defines an elevation of 1,221.4 (the elevation of the top of the spillway crest at Hoover Dam) as maximum lake storage capacity and 1,219.6 feet elevation as “operationally full.” The 1229.0 elevation refers to the top of “exclusive flood control.”

The minimum elevation to generate power at Hoover Dam is reported by BOR to be 1,050 feet, below which the reservoir is considered an “inactive pool.” Water above 1,050 feet elevation is considered “live storage” and a “dead pool” exists at 895 feet in elevation, which is the lowest water outlet at Hoover Dam.

EDIT

https://www.nps.gov/lake/learn/nature/storage-capacity-of-lake-mead.htm

And it's currently 1055.72, so a ways to go yet - but then, it's currently at 31.3% of capacity, so we'll see what summer brings.

http://lakemead.water-data.com/