Researchers are warning that Lake Mead could be dry by 2021, but may be out of usable water as early as 2014.

The lake is Las Vegas' primary water source, as well it provides water to over 25 million people in seven states. According to scientists at Scripps Institution of Oceanography in San Diego, the Colorado River feeds Lake Mead, as well as Lake Powell and threats such as climate change and eight years of drought are causing a deficit of nearly one million acre-feet of water annually. To make matters worse, the watter supply is not being replenished. Both lakes are currently only about half-full.

"We were stunned at the magnitude of the problem and how fast it was coming at us," said marine physicist Tim Barnett. "Make no mistake, this water problem is not a scientific abstraction but rather one that will impact each and every one of us that live in the Southwest. The biggest change right now is taking more water from the bucket than we are putting into it."

What a shocker, climate change is taking the blame for yet potentially catastrophic event. I'm fairly certain Britney Spears' public relations team could blame her erratic behaviour and abnormal "episodes" on the effects of global warming, and at this point, nobody would even bat an eyelash or question the theory.

» Associated Press