United States · Natural DisastersHow low will Lake Mead drop?

How low will Lake Mead drop?

• Will Lake Mead's minimum elevation stay above 1,038 ft?5¢5%
• Will Lake Mead's minimum elevation be at least 1,033 but below 1,038 ft?21¢21%
• Will Lake Mead's minimum elevation be at least 1,028 but below 1,033 ft?51¢51%
• Will Lake Mead's minimum elevation fall below 1,028 ft?32¢32%

This market resolves based on the lowest daily elevation recorded at Lake Mead (Hoover Dam) between market creation and March 31, 2027, as published by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. See each individual market for its bracket and full resolution terms. Because a lower reading can occur at any point up to March 31, 2027, all outcomes are settled after the window closes, based on the lowest daily elevation recorded during the window. The resolution source is the minimum daily lake elevation published by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation for Lake Mead at Hoover Dam, available at https://data.usbr.gov/catalog/4370/item/6123. USBR data is provisional and subject to revision; the lowest daily elevation reflected in USBR data as of April 15, 2027 governs, and revisions published after April 15, 2027 will not change the outcome. Daily elevation data published at https://lakemead.water-data.com/ may also be referenced, but if it disagrees with USBR, the USBR value governs. In the case that the Resolution Source publishes data, sufficient to settle a Market, that is clearly erroneous and the result of technical or operational error, or of unauthorized interference with the Resolution Source or its data, the Market may remain open for a period of up to seven (7) calendar days (ET) from the time of the original release, in anticipation of a correction by the Resolution Source. If the Resolution Source publishes a corrected value within that period, that value will be eligible for resolution. If no corrected value is published within that period, Polymarket will issue a Clarification to determine whether the originally published value may be eligible for resolution, or whether other action is required to preserve the orderly functioning of the Market.

Lake Mead's ongoing decline stems from the Colorado River basin's structural water deficit, where allocations exceed long-term average flows, compounded by two decades of drought, high evaporation rates, and reduced inflows. As of mid-October 2026, the reservoir sits at approximately 1,037.6 feet (26% capacity), a new record low just below the prior 2022 mark, with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation's September 2026 24-Month Study projecting 1,034.18 feet by December 31. Recent minor stabilization from Lake Powell releases and localized rain from Tropical Storm Rachel has slowed the drop, but upstream conditions remain constrained. Trader sentiment favors levels in the 1,028–1,033 ft range due to expected continued drawdown through winter, absent a strong snowpack recovery that typically drives spring inflows. Key upcoming factors include the 2027 operating guidelines and winter precipitation data that could alter release schedules.