LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — The National Park Service and officials with the Lake Mead National Recreation Area are asking for the public's input on the future of Lake Mead. Due to falling water levels over the last couple of years, officials are trying to plan for the future and how to move forward if the lake gets lower.
On Thursday, recreation area officials released a draft environmental assessment that is part of the Sustainable Low Water Access Plan for Lake Mead. There are several options that are being discussed.
One alternative would be where the National Park Service would stop extending launch ramps, resulting in marinas and facilities closing as well as concession contracts ending. Another alternative would be the "no-action alternative" where officials would follow procedures laid out in the 2019 finding of no significant impact.
However, National Park Service officials said they are leaning towards the alternative where they would continue to provide recreational opportunities, including lake access, to the degree that's "financially feasible and cost-effective." In this option, the park service would also maintain concessionaire-operated marinas and improve launching access at Hemenway Harbor, Callville Bay, and Temple Bar. At Echo Bay and South Cove, the park service would maintain "visitor access to the extent feasible."
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Channel 13 took a deeper dive into this option to learn more specifics.
- Hemenway Harbor - The National Park Service would extend the launch ramp to a water level of 1,000 feet and would maintain marina operations. When water levels fall below 1,000 feet, the National Park Service would relocate the launch ramp and marina closer to Hemenway Wall. Park operations would continue to support concessionaire operations such as moving underwater anchors for courtesy docks, buoys, and navigation systems away from shorelines to adjust to changing marina locations.
- Echo Bay - The National Park Service would maintain the closure of the existing launch ramp and provide limited access down to 1,000 feet via a "primary access road and primitive launch ramp area." The park service said the ramp would be launched on a "natural surface at visitors' own risk." However, they add the ramp would be closed if the water falls below 1,000 feet. Officials add they would continue to provide potable water to the site until water levels drop below 980 feet. If that happens, the National Park Service would discontinue concession services and close the trailer village and RV sites.
- Callville Bay - The concrete launch ramp at Callville Bay would continue to be closed when water levels are at or below 1,065 feet. All other facilities would continue to operate including the portable launch ramp. The National Park Service would extend the launch ramp and marina operations further into the lake "to the extent feasible." Below 950 feet, infrastructure that no longer provides access to the water would be evaluated and removed if it was ruled to be unsafe. Park service officials add the park service would provide potable water until lake levels fall below 950 feet. If so, a timeline and plan would be develop to allow trailer village and RV site occupants to relocate.
- South Cove - The National Park Service would continue to support primitive launch access from the end of an NPS-approved road that's about 0.5 miles south of the existing concrete launch ramp. If levels fall below 1,035 feet, no new launch access would be built. No amenities or services would be provided and potable water would not be provided.
- Temple Bar - The existing launch ramp would be closed when water levels are below 1,070 feet. The concessionaire would continue to manage a portable launch ramp. If needed, the concessionaire could relocate the marina and portable launch ramp to provide access to 950 feet. If the park service was unable to get funding, staff would terminate the concession contract and close the marina unless the concessionaire expressed interest in operating land-based facilities only.
Regardless of what option the National Park Service chooses, the plan states it would cost millions of dollars to keep these locations running.
According to the National Park Service, the park doesn't have comprehensive plans or strategies to manage lake levels below 950 feet.
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Meantime, falling water levels continue to impact the number of visitors coming to the Lake Mead National Recreation Area and it's making operations difficult. According to the plan, currently, staff and contractors are having to relocate and extend the launch ramp at Hemenway Harbor on an almost daily basis due to changing water levels. That's slowing down how fast boats can be launched, which park service officials said is negatively affecting visitors' experiences. For example, they state the average boat launch takes 50 minutes and for an average 12-hour launch day, it can accommodate about 50 motorized boat launches. They said some boaters waited up to four hours to get in the water in 2021 and 2022.
It's also leading to more violent incidents being reported. According to the National Park Service, from June 2021 to July 2022, there were 96 law enforcement incidents at the Hemenway Harbor launch ramp including 22 calls for traffic conflicts and four calls for visitors fighting.
Falling water levels are also making it harder to response to incidents on the water. The National Park Service said law enforcement can no longer launch motorized vessels at South Cove and must now launch at Temple Bar, which is creating longer response times.
You can read the full environmental assessment here.
In addition to releasing the environmental assessment, Lake Mead officials are holding another round of public meetings to discuss boating operations. During the last round of public meetings, Lake Mead officials said they received 1,049 public comments that helped them shape their decisions.
"We are excited to move forward with the next phase of public engagement with our local communities and stakeholders," said acting Superintendent Mike Gauthier. "We have received critical feedback to date. We have carefully considered what we have heard from you and we look forward to working together to find the best path forward for preserving boating access."
The full list of meetings are below and you can leave your comments for the plan on the park's planning website here.
- Virtual meeting - July 10, 5-6 p.m.
- Boulder City - July 11, 5-7 p.m.
Boulder City Recreation Center, 900 Arizona Street - Kingman - July 12, 5-7 p.m.
Beale Celebrations Building, 201 North Fourth Street
