Nation’s largest reservoir hits record low. What does that mean for West Coast residents?

Low water levels due to drought are seen in the Hoover Dam reservoir of Lake Mead near Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. June 9, 2021. Photo by REUTERS/Bridget Bennett TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

Heat and drought are both straining the state’s water supply, and Governor Gavin Newsom is asking residents to voluntarily reduce water consumption. People across California, Nevada, Arizona, and Mexico all rely on Lake Mead for their water supply. But the lake is only 35% full now, which is a level not seen since the 1930s.