The San Carlos Reservoir in Arizona has experienced a drastic reduction in its water levels, leading to a massive fish kill. This situation is attributed to a combination of prolonged drought in the region and controlled water releases from the reservoir, factors that have brought the body of water to historical lows.

The decrease in water volume severely impacts the aquatic ecosystem, altering dissolved oxygen levels, temperature, and pollutant concentrations, which proves lethal to fish fauna. This event underscores the vulnerability of river and lake ecosystems to climate change and water management in arid zones.