Algae, rangers slow deaths at lake

Monday, July 30, 2001 | 11:06 a.m.

Deaths at Lake Mead are down at summer's midpoint, but officials are cautious when comparing fatality statistics with those of recent years.

"It may sound morbid, but it almost appears that we are rushing to catch up," said Bert Byers, spokesman for the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, noting that a death last weekend brought the year-to-date fatality total to 11.

"We attribute the decrease in deaths in part to the law enforcement presence of our rangers who are promoting a sense of well-being and safety, like cautioning boaters to wear life jackets."

Another factor in the lower death toll this year could be declining visitor volume. Lake Mead is about 300,000 visitors down from its average, Byers said.

One reason could be the largest and longest algae bloom that has continued through the summer.

Gail Kaiser, whose family owns Las Vegas Bay Marina, said that although the green algae is not a public health threat, people were reluctant to boat or swim in the greenish water. The bloom spread over the entire lake from Overton Beach to Hoover Dam and lasted until last week, she said.

There have been about half as many deaths so far this year at Lake Mead as there were for 1999, when 22 people died, and 2000, when 23 people lost their lives.

However, by the end of July 1999, there were 17 deaths -- one fewer than at that point in 1998. In 2000, there were 11 deaths by May and 16 by the end of July, Byers said.

On Saturday 48-year-old Michael J. Giuliano of Henderson died at Lake Mead when he was run over by a boat trailer. He was riding the trailer up the boat launch ramp at Government Wash about 6:15 p.m., when he fell off the front and was crushed under the wheels, Byers said.

So far this year, there have been three suicides, two drownings, two natural deaths, two motor vehicle deaths -- including Giuliano -- one boating death and one motorcycle death, Byers said.

Last year there were nine natural deaths, three motor vehicle deaths, three drownings, two exposures, two suicides, one fall, one carbon monoxide poisoning in a tent, one boating death and one overdose, Byers said.

In 1999 there were eight drownings, six motor vehicle fatalities, three natural, two suicides, one boating death, one plane crash fatality and one death, with the cause listed as unknown, Byers said.

Lake Mead recreation area encompasses more than 200,000 acres of surface water on Lakes Mead and Mohave and 1.3 million acres of land that includes almost 1,000 miles of shore line. With about 9 million visitors annually -- half of which are locals -- it is the fourth most visited park in the nation.

Last year a report in the Wall Street Journal ranked Lake Mead National Recreation Area as the nation's most dangerous national park because it logged 540 search and rescues and 732 serious crimes in 1999. Lake Mead topped 45 other national parks for that dubious distinction.

One of the most serious fatal accidents at Lake Mead occurred on the Arizona side in March 1998, when a 47-foot Fountain craft ran aground at 50 mph and slammed into rocks about six miles upstream from the Hoover Dam, killing four.

Sun reporters

Mary Manning and Jace Radke contributed to this report.

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