The ongoing drought is affecting millions of Americans, particularly in the Western and High Plains regions. Low snowfall and early snowmelt are reducing water availability for agriculture, recreation, and municipal use. Economic impacts are being felt in areas reliant on winter tourism, such as Utah, where ski resorts have closed earlier than usual. Groundwater depletion in the High Plains Aquifer threatens long-term water security for states like Texas, Nebraska, and Kansas. Water quality issues, including contamination from fertilizers, pesticides, and naturally occurring metals like arsenic, pose additional risks to public health and ecosystems.