5 Lakes That Almost Dried Up in 2022’s Heat

Why are lakes important? For one, cities rely on natural and man-made lakes for their water supply and fisheries. Lakes are important for environmental reasons as well as economics. Lakes provide surrounding areas with water and local economies thrive with the help of tourism. Species that live in and around lakes rely on the water and food sources they supply.

Some lakes’ water supply is threatened as droughts get worse and temperatures continue to rise. The heat waves we’ve experienced in 2022 have killed thousands of fish as the temperature reaches unlivable levels for coldwater fish like yellow perch, trout, and walleye. As the water warms invasive species of fish like smallmouth bass are thriving and displacing fish like trout and walleye.

More concerning may be the impacts of drought across the western United States. As watersheds receive less rain and snowpack, reservoirs and natural lakes across the region are drying up. Let’s take a look at five lakes in the U.S. that almost dried up in 2022’s heat. 

1. Great Salt Lake

Northern Utah is home to the largest saltwater lake in the Western Hemisphere known as the Great Salt Lake. Aptly named, the lake has waters much saltier than seawater that makes it unsuitable for all but a few species like brine shrimp, brine flies, and several types of algae. However, the freshwater and saltwater wetlands on the northern and eastern edges of the lake provide a home for millions of shore birds and waterfowl. These birds depend on the marshes and the food sources the lake provides. 

This lake is shallow with gently sloping shores so water levels rise and fall dramatically depending on the season. Due to severe drought caused by water usage and rising temperatures, the lake has been continuously shrinking in recent years. In 2021, the lake hit a record low of 950 square miles and continues to get smaller. In order to combat this a proposal was to build a pipeline that would bring water from Bear River and replenish the lake. 

2. Salton Sea

In Southern California, you can find the Salton Sea, a lake formed in 1905 by an inflow of water from the Colorado River. Over the decades, the lake was predicted to run dry but because farmers used Colorado River water they would run the excess into the Salton Sea, keeping it from completely drying out. In 1999, as local farmers used their water more efficiently the lake began to shrink rapidly. As the lake bed became exposed, winds would carry clouds of toxic dust into nearby areas. 

In 2018, the air quality had become so bad from the toxic dust that it was declared an emergency and in 2021 construction started on a project to help manage the Salton Sea. In 2022, severe drought and rising temperatures caused the size of the Salton Sea to rapidly decline. Researchers estimated this could expose another 100,000 acres of lake floor, which will lead to a further decline in air quality in surrounding areas. 

3. Lake Mead

Lake Mead is located on the border of the northwest corner of Arizona and the southern corner of Nevada. The lake is actually a reservoir made by the Hoover Dam on the Colorado River. It is the largest reservoir in the U.S. and provides water to more than 20 million people in Arizona, California, Nevada, and some of Mexico. 

An increase in demand and drought have caused the lake to remain below full capacity since 1983. In recent years as the drought has become more severe Lake Mead has hit a record low, holding only 40% of its actual capacity. In 2022, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation declared “shortage conditions,” which result in water delivery falling by 4.44%.

4. Walker Lake

Walker Lake is located in western Nevada in the Great Basin. It is fed by the nearby Walker River and has no natural outlet besides evaporation and absorption. Due to upstream diversions of Walker River and no natural outlet, Walker Lake fell into a state of ecological collapse. The high concentration of salt in the water prevents fish from living there now, which is having a negative effect on local economies. 

The water volume has declined more than 90% since the 1850s and in recent years has been declining at a faster rate. The Walker Basin Restoration Project was created to help restore the lake to be able to support fish and bird life again. Due to severe drought and rising temperatures, 2022 continued to see falling water levels. The Walker Basin Conservancy is making efforts to supply the lake with fresh water. 

5. Mono Lake

Near the east California/Nevada border you can find a saline soda lake called Mono Lake. This lake has no outlet to the sea so minerals sit in the water and cause it to become very saline. Because Mono Lake is considered a closed lake, which means the only way it loses water is through evaporation or through groundwater, the water levels depend on changes in climate. 

Minerals that sit in the water can become tufa towers which are formed under the surface located all around the lake. In recent years the water levels have dropped so much that the tufa towers have become exposed giving visitors a beautiful view. In the heat waves that we saw in 2022, as the temperature continues to rise, the water levels will continue to drop.

Summary of 5 Lakes That Almost Dried Up in 2022’s Heat

Here’s a recap of five lakes that suffered greatly from the high temperatures in 2022:

Honorable Mention: Other Lakes That Almost Dried Up

Lakes are susceptible to low levels due to several factors – climate change, also known as global warming, human consumption, and an increase in evaporative demand, which is a change in the surface atmosphere due to cloud cover, humidity, wind speed, and temperature. The largest contributing factor is environmental where an increase of droughts and higher temperatures make it hard for lakes and reservoirs to fill. Here are a few additional lakes that are in danger:

• Lake Powell – located in both Utah and Arizona, this lake is the largest reservoir in Arizona and is the second-largest artificial lake, trailing behind Lake Mead. It was formed when Glen Canyon was flooded and Glen Canyon Dam was created. When at full capacity, it rises 3,700 feet above sea level and can hold 24,322,000 acre-feet of water. It is currently at 3,569 feet above sea level, with a water capacity of 8,448,159 acre-feet of water.

• Emigrant Lake – was formed by the Emigrant Lake Dam in 1924 and is located in Oregon on Emigrant Lake, which is a tributary of Bear Creek, at the southern end of the Rogue Valley. At full capacity, this reservoir has an elevation of 2,241 feet above sea level but current levels are only at 3% of full capacity.

• Cachuma Lake – located in California, on the Santa Inez River in Santa Barbara County. This is a reservoir that was formed in 1953 by the construction of the Bradbury Dam. At full capacity, the lake rises 793 feet above sea level but as of late 2022, it was at 691 feet above sea level.