Colorado River 2027
August 16 – August 25, 2026 Updated Aug 25
Every published chapter of The Fold's coverage of Colorado River 2027, in one place — oldest to newest, updated as the story develops.
Reclamation’s projection for Lake Mead on 1 January 2027 fell 19 feet in a single edition. The rulebook that would have turned that into a water cut expires first
Twelve consecutive 24-Month Studies show the Bureau of Reclamation’s forecast for the date that sets Lower Basin shortage tiers. It dropped 19.33 feet between the April and May editions — and the 2007 guidelines that gave the number its force run out on 31 December.
Reclamation's two official August 24-Month Studies disagree about the 1,010 ft trigger. The 6.0 maf run bottoms at 1,005.63 ft, the 7.0 maf run at 1,013.92 ft
Reclamation published the August 2026 24-Month Study as two simultaneous official reports. The 6.0 maf Lake Powell run puts Lake Mead at 1,005.63 ft in July 2027, below the 1,010 ft consultation trigger written into the new 2027-2028 guidelines; the 7.0 maf run bottoms at 1,013.92 ft and stays clear.