The shocking numbers behind the Lake Mead drought crisis Birmingham, AL, USA / WATV • MyV949.com CNN.com - RSS Channel - HP Hero Jun 17, 2021 | 6:52 AM The United States’ largest reservoir is draining rapidly. Plagued by extreme, climate change-fueled drought and increasing demand for water, Lake Mead on Wednesday registered its lowest level on record since the reservoir was filled in the 1930s.