Lake Mead drying up
Lake Mead in Nevada is suffering from a historic drought along with the rest of the Western United States. Historically, the reservoir has provided more than 90 percent of Las Vegas’ drinking water.
Federal water managers are now projecting that the lake won’t have enough water to fulfill deliveries to Nevada and Arizona in 2018 according to a report released on August 16, 2016.
Here, the water levels are down more than 60 percent of capacity in May 6, 2015. In September 2015, the reservoir was down 147 feet from full capacity in 1983 and only 38 percent full. In 2016, the levels the reservoir is just 36 percent full, at its lowest level Wednesday since the reservoir was created.
Lake Mead
Vegetation grows between boat docks at the now defunct Echo Bay Marina in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Thursday, May 19, 2016, near Las Vegas.
Lake Mead’s surface was at its lowest level Wednesday since the reservoir was created.
Lake Mead
Water intake pipes that were once underwater sit above the water line along Lake Mead in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area near Boulder City, Nevada, May 18, 2015.
Lake Mead
A riverboat glides through Lake Mead on the Colorado River at Hoover Dam near Boulder City, Nevada, October 14, 2015.
Lake Mead
Tires that were once under water are now high and dry above the water line at the now defunct Echo Bay Marina in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Thursday, May 19, 2016, near Las Vegas.
Lake Mead
Cracked and curled mud covers ground that was once under water at the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Thursday, May 19, 2016, near Las Vegas.
Lake Mead
People take photos near Hoover Dam with the low water levels of Lake Mead on the Nevada and Arizona border, April 11, 2015.
Lake Mead gets more visitors than either Yosemite or the Grand Canyon. Many now are visiting to see the “shrinking lake.”
Lake Mead
In this before-and-after composite image, (Top) Boats are moored at the Lake Mead Marina July 25, 2007 in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Nevada.
(Bottom) A pair of restrooms on pontoon floats rest on dirt in Boulder Harbor where the Lake Mead Marina was once located on July 17, 2014 in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Nevada. In 2008, the marina was moved due to low water levels.
St. Thomas
The ruins of the Old West town of St. Thomas were hidden for decades under water, but are now visible, July 2015.
St. Thomas was founded in 1865 by Mormon pioneers.
Lake Mead
The effect of a prolonged drought in the Western United States can be seen at Lake Mead in Nevada, May 6, 2015.
In September 2015, a new $817 million tunnel was completed to draw drinking water from the shrinking lake.
Lake Mead
The Arizona Intake Towers at the Hoover Dam are shown on July 17, 2014 in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Arizona.
In early July 2014, North America’s largest man-made reservoir dropped below 1,082 feet above sea level, the lowest since the Hoover Dam was built in the 1930s.
Lake Mead
In this before-and-after composite image, (Top) The Arizona Intake Towers at the Hoover Dam July 30, 2007 in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Arizona.
JULY 17: (Bottom) The Arizona Intake Towers at the Hoover Dam are shown on July 17, 2014 in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Arizona.
A 14-year drought in the Southwestern United States and a dwindling supply of water from the Colorado River, in part due to cuts in the reservoir’s annual allocation of water from Lake Powell, has left a white ‘bathtub ring’ of mineral deposits left by higher water levels on the rocks around the lake as high as 130 feet.
Lake Mead
In this before-and-after composite image, (Top) Boats are moored at the Lake Mead Marina July 26, 2007 in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Nevada.
(Bottom) A view of Lake Mead where the marina was once located on July 17, 2014 in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Nevada. In 2008, the marina was moved due to low water levels.
Lake Mead
Lake Mead has receded so far that tourists can now hike one mile across the desert to examine what’s left, May 6, 2015.
Lake Mead
The low water level from Lake Mead is shown from the Arizona side of the Hoover Dam as a prolonged drought affects the Western United States, May 6, 2015.
Lake Mead
Low water levels of Lake Mead is seen near the Hoover Dam on the Nevada and Arizona border, April 11, 2015.
Lake Mead
Freshwater carp come to the surface looking for food in the shallow waters of Lake Mead in Nevada, May 6, 2015.
Lake Mead
James Spears takes his 1964 German built Amphicar, a amphibious automobile, for a drive on Lake Mead in Nevada, May 6, 2015.
Lake Mead
A sign at the Echo Bay launch ramp warns boaters about low water levels on July 13, 2014 in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Nevada.
Lake Mead
A worklight sits on what used to be the bottom of Lake Mead at the abandoned Echo Bay Marina in Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Nevada, May 12, 2015.
Lake Mead
A boat sails on Lake Mead in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Nevada, July 17, 2014.
A 14-year drought in the Southwestern United States and a dwindling supply of water from the Colorado River, in part due to cuts in the reservoir’s annual allocation of water from Lake Powell, has left a white “bathtub ring” of mineral deposits left by higher water levels on the rocks around the lake as high as 130 feet.
Lake Mead
Large stretches that once were underwater are now revealed with a marina in the distance on Lake Mead in Nevada, May 6, 2015.
Lake Mead
Boats travel on Lake Mead in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Nevada, July 17, 2014.
Lake Mead
A buoy warning “no boats” stands on dirt at the abandoned Echo Bay Marina in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Nevada, July 13, 2014.
Lake Mead
A band of rocks stained by minerals is shown behind boats moored at a marina in Hemenway Harbor on July 17, 2014 in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Nevada.
Lake Mead
Passengers taking a boat tour pass in front of a mineral-stained rock wall in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Nevada, July 14, 2014.
Lake Mead
Shrubs grow around a boat sitting in mud in an area that used to be underwater near Boulder Beach in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Nevada, July 13, 2014.
North America’s largest man-made reservoir dropped below 1,082 feet above sea level, the lowest it’s been since the Hoover Dam was built in the 1930s.
Lake Mead
An aerial view of Lake Mead in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Arizona, November 6, 2008.
Lake Mead
Boat docks sit on what used to be the bottom of Lake Mead at the abandoned Echo Bay Marina in Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Nevada, May 12, 2015.
The National Park Service has been forced to close or extend boat launch ramps, and move entire marinas to try to keep up with the receding water levels.
Lake Mead
A bridge at the Callville Bay Marina is no longer open to lead visitors over the water on July 13, 2014 in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Nevada. Boaters instead now access the docks using a low water ramp that was recently installed.