As Lake Mead drops, officials to talk low water, boating safety during April community meeting
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Lake Mead officials plan to talk about low water operations and boating safety during a community meeting scheduled on Thursday, April 25, at 3 p.m.
It’s the third community meeting since Superintendent Mike Gauthier took over at Lake Mead, and the two topics are among several others planned for the hourlong virtual meeting, which the public can access by clicking here. The videoconference runs through Microsoft Teams, and questions from viewers will be asked and answered using the chat function.
Lake Mead’s surface was at 1,073.27 feet above sea level as of noon on Tuesday. Projections from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation show the lake is expected to drop about 14 feet over the next 7 months, hitting a low of 1059.16 in December before climbing 4½ feet by February 2025.
The lake’s low point next year is expected to be 1048.24 feet in July, according to Reclamation’s April 24-month study, which is updated each month to determine reservoir operations. The study shows a range of possibilities, but only the “most probable” levels are cited in this report. Those “most probable” levels increased by about 8 feet since November, partly based on snowpack levels that were 111% of normal on April 1.
On July 27, 2022, Lake Mead dropped to its lowest point since the reservoir was filled in the 1930s. The lake was at 1,041.71 feet — about 31½ feet lower than it is today.
Gauthier is expected to talk about “More to Mead” partnership initiatives at the park along with a preview of summer safety. Other topics include an overview of commercial services at the park, the prescribed fire program and “employee perspective on fee station operations and engagement.”
The park converted to cashless entry at the start of the year.
There’s also a discussion planned on “historical trash” — what constitutes cultural resources versus trash at the park.
Gauthier began the virtual meetings as a way to share information about the work the National Park Service does and to “increase community understanding and support of our operations, challenges, upcoming projects and initiatives,” according to a news release announcing the April 25 meeting.
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