LAKE MEAD WATER LEVELS

[syncityangler]

hey guys n gals, anyone know why lake mead is dropping so fast? is this a normal acurance? its been quite a few years since i really fished mead...but just since march its dropped probly a good 15+ feet...thats crazy.
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[Sil240sxrwd]

**COPIED FROM LINCOLN COUNTY RECORD**

The dramatic drop in the level of Lake Mead since 2000 when it was well above average has been startling. In June 2009, the Bureau of Reclamation recorded levels at 1,095 feet above sea level, 43 percent of capacity. In 2000, the lake was 96 percent of capacity.

The Scripps Institution of Oceanography predicts there is a 50 percent probability that Lake Mead will be completely dry to 2021, because of climate change, unsustainable use of Colorado River water and unabated growth in the Southern Nevada area. The report concluded, "Today, we are at or beyond the sustainable limit of the Colorado system.

Agriculture interests in California and Arizona get 80 percent of the water from the Colorado system. Southern Nevada Water Authority, which takes 90 percent of the water they use for Southern Nevada's water supply, is also greatly concerned there will not be enough water left for their needs. SNWA uses two main intake pipes in Lake Mead to feed water to the SNWA system. However, the drastic drop has been so great, when the level of Lake Mead reaches 1,050, one of the intake pipes will be higher that the water level. At the 1,000-foot level, the other intake pipe will be above the water level.
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[Sil240sxrwd]

So basically we just use too much water. Sadly, Nothing drastic will probably be done about it til the S*** hits the fan.
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[N.E.T.O.]

We used to do an annual Lake Mead trip every memorial day as Powell is usually still too cold. We would stay at the Best Western in Overton, and launch each day at the Overton Marina.
One year ( I think 2005 or so?) we called to make the reservations and the hotel clerk informed us that the Overton marina was now high and dry and that launching a boat there was not possible, and that one would have to travel to the Echo marina to launch which is about an hour down the road from Overton. Well, we cancelled our trip, and in doing some research found that there was about an 80% chance that the Overton marina would NEVER see water again, due to what has already been mentioned in this thread. We haven't been back since. There is also a stranded houseboat in the big basin across from Overton, that I'm sure is hikeable by now.
As with everything else I seem to find that is good...it came to an end.
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[Erawk]

It really is a shame. I wish more people would pay attention to the lake and conserve accordingly. Seeing the lake drop has driven the water crisis home for me. And we still try to grow grass in 120 degree desert heat. <facepalm>
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[Erawk]

Being from the landscape industry, I get a lot of questions from people as to why their grass never looks as good as they want it too. I usually tell them it's because those types of grass are not suited to grow in the hot Mojave desert. It is a constant uphill battle. I personally feel that most grass isn't used enough to justify the water that it takes to sustain it. Most grass is merely looked at from a distance and is therefore IMO a gross misappropriation of resources.

But people LOVE their lawns.

http://www.allaboutlawns.com/lawn-mainte...l-lawn.php
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[syncityangler]

you are right about nothing getting done till it all hits the fan. my kids always ask why the lake gets smaller every time we go fishin..... if they can see the rapid drop there is definitely a problem. another question..... why isn't mojave as low as mead is? its the same water, but it is only down about 5 feet according to some website i was on. but mead is down some 300 feet. my kids now make it a purpose to turn faucets off and not let them run needlessly and they get on me and my wife about letting faucets run. and at night if they get a glass of water and don't finnish it, the left over water goes to the pets in the morning.. its a small part but if everyone did something small it may make a difference. my children want their lake for their children to enjoy. unfortunately the lakes future doesn't look all that great .....
~chris
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[Erawk]

Way to teach your children about conservation, Syn. Very commendable.

I'm guessing that the reason Mojave isn't falling like Mead is that the water pulled from Mojave does not exceed the amount of water it is entitled to keep. Whereas at Mead, the consumption of water far exceeds the water credits we are allowed to withhold in the lake, thereby dropping it's level.

Mohave Level Chart
http://www.arachnoid.com/NaturalResources/mohave.html

Mead Level Chart
http://www.arachnoid.com/NaturalResources/
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[BigE]

[cool]I too have noticed the drop in water. But what about lake Powell? The water level has increased and now holds at a higher level. Last I saw there wasn't much of a population around Powell. Why isn't Powell drawn down to a lower level and put some more in Mead? Once again I think it is our politicians at work.
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[Bassin_Blitz]

You always keep the water stored as high in the chain as possible. Once it has been released there is no getting it back.
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[Sil240sxrwd]

[quote BigE][cool]I too have noticed the drop in water. But what about lake Powell? The water level has increased and now holds at a higher level. Last I saw there wasn't much of a population around Powell. Why isn't Powell drawn down to a lower level and put some more in Mead? Once again I think it is our politicians at work.[/quote]

I have thought about that whole lake powell thing. I always wanted to know how they decide how much water to let out of powell. I found this article and it answered a few questions for me.

River Beat: Why is lake mead dropping
http://www.inkstain.net/fleck/?p=4577
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[Erawk]

Nice blog, Sil.

For those who read it, read the comments below the blog as well. The author writes this, "Lake Mead’s drop is a function of demand, not supply."
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[TheWhizzle]

I heard today that there will be something going on in 3 years having to do with legal issues concerning the usage of Meads water- Apparently, we will get more water rights, and they are supposed to fill the lake a bit.

This is an unconfirmed report, but it is worth investigating... I will update you all when I find out more.

The Whizzle
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[Erawk]

Any word on those unconfirmed reports?

The lake is definitely dropping. Boulder Harbor launch now has exposed gravel. I hope it doesn't really dry up by 2020 like they're predicting.
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[syncityangler]

[quote Erawk]
The lake is definitely dropping. Boulder Harbor launch now has exposed gravel. I hope it doesn't really dry up by 2020 like they're predicting.[/quote]

if the rate its dropping keeps on course.. about a foot a week and the lake is only about 300 feet deep now, we are looking at 6 years give or take and all the water will be gone. it really sucks.....
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[stripercraze]

Hello Everyone,

I was told By NDOW this year the Lake will will lowered by 20 feet by sept. In one of my fishing club meetings we were told that the lake can only drop so far then the dam can not produce electricity. At this point there will still be alot of water till in the lake. i can't remember the number of acer ft they told us. Until the lake filled back up high enough to start generating electricity no water could be released.

Lake Mead's first priority is Irrigation. Second is Electric Third is Vegas Water for drinking. And Last is us Fishermen and women :{

Also the new Intake project going on out there is in 350ft of water. If it ever gets low enough where we cant get water something else in the world will be going on where this would be the least of our worries.

Get out there and fish your butts off now. The Lake is lower and the fish are closer togehter.


Stripercraze
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[syncityangler]

[quote stripercraze]
Get out there and fish your butts off now. The Lake is lower and the fish are closer togehter.
Stripercraze[/quote]

this is true its like shooting fish in a barrel... unfortunately i still cant catch $#!t lol ;-D thanx for the info stripercraze.
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[treadhead1952]

Hi All,

I was out on the lake to break in my new Kayak and wandered from Boulder Harbor north to Las Vegas Wash area. While the water levels are down there is still a lot of fishing to be done. I saw a lot of fish cruising the bottom when the visibility permitted. I ran into Boulder Buzzard and he said he hooked up with one that bent his rod nearly double before it wrapped the line and took off.

Jay
treadhead1952
Las Vegas, NV
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[jetsled]

I'm a newbie to the area 3 weeks to be exact and I am very concerned from what I have been reading and hearing about the level of Mead. I am an avid fisherman and enjoy sharing that experience with my family. We all must do our part to conserve our natural resources and instill that same mind set in the future generations. It's unfortunate to know that in probably less than a decade mead will be nothing more than a mud puddle if something isn't done. But enough with me being on my soap box where can I catch some fish?
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[Sil240sxrwd]

Conservation is a lost cause in this town. Just take a drive through the neighborhoods around Fort Apache and Sahara (Summerlin area). Nothing but lush green lawns and trees in every yard. Not to mention all the golf courses!! It makes me so mad when I get home at 2am to see a river of runoff 4 inches high in the gutter from people watering their lawns in my neighborhood.

On a side note, We did recieve a letter from the HoA a month ago stating that the water district has hit my neighborhoods association with $400,000 dollars in water abuse fines in the last year. My neighbors just do not care... They would rather pay the fines and have a nice lawn....bye bye mead!

[quote jetsled]I'm a newbie to the area 3 weeks to be exact and I am very concerned from what I have been reading and hearing about the level of Mead. I am an avid fisherman and enjoy sharing that experience with my family. We all must do our part to conserve our natural resources and instill that same mind set in the future generations. It's unfortunate to know that in probably less than a decade mead will be nothing more than a mud puddle if something isn't done. But enough with me being on my soap box where can I catch some fish?[/quote]
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