LAS VEGAS — The main water source for Las Vegas, Lake Mead, could soon run dangerously low again this summer, new projections show. Experts say this can perhaps be a history repeat of 2022 when the reservoir reached a historical low of 1,040 feet.

Recent projections show that runoff into Lake Powell, which feeds into Lake Mead, is expected to be only 55% of the average — even worse than earlier estimates. This is due to below-average snowpack in the Colorado River Basin.

“It’s going to be a painful summer, watching the levels go down,” said Kyle Roerink of the Great Basin Water Network. Since May, Lake Mead has risen 20 feet from where it was in 2022 and is currently at 33% capacity. Federally mandated conservation brought levels up a little under the Biden administration, but experts are still cautious.

The seven Colorado River Basin states are in the middle of tough negotiations to come up with new water-sharing guidelines before the current ones expire in 2026. Conservation groups say more long-term solutions are urgently needed to avoid constant water crises.

In Southern Nevada, water officials continue urging residents to cut back on outdoor use. The Southern Nevada Water Authority recommends drip irrigation just four days a week in summer and warns that water usage has risen 6% this year.

“Every drop counts,” said SNWA spokesperson Bronson Mack, urging residents to do their part to help conserve.