My thoughts exactly. Either something is wrong with Hoover Dam and it can't be saved without draining or its a target for destruction in this war.

This bigger pattern I see is that steps are being taken to clear people out of most of the big cities. DC, NYC, LA, Portland, SF, LV, Seattle, etc. Using various means: water scarcity, crime, riots, covid/restrictions, food supply, possibly even the upcoming radiation scare.

I wonder about the reason: are these big cities targeted for full destruction? Maybe just to get the blue voters to relocate to the red states to control the elections for the foreseeable future? Start the civil war as they migrate and irritate the existing populations? Lots of possibilities...