Lake lowdown: Dropping Mead levels threaten boaters

Rebecca Malone

Tuesday, June 5, 2001 | 10:45 a.m.

David Crammer of Las Vegas doesn't need to be convinced that water levels at Lake Mead are dropping.

The fact that his boat is undergoing an estimated $1,500 in repairs -- necessitated when the vessel struck a rock about 50 feet from the shoreline two weeks ago -- is evidence enough.

The lake, as of Monday, was at 1,187 feet, which was 20 feet lower than levels recorded at the same time last year and 3 feet lower since the beginning of May, according to Bureau of Reclamation records.

Water levels have dipped low enough to meet the tips of large rocks, which presents obvious hazards for boaters.

"I guess I am just going to have to be more careful," Crammer said. "I thought everything was marked out there, but obviously not."

Nancy Bernard, volunteer coordinator at Boulder Beach, said volunteers are continually repositioning buoys to warn boaters of large rocks and dangerous spots.

The National Park Service, which oversees the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, attempts to keep boaters informed of potential dangers through fliers and its Desert Lake View newspaper.

Colleen Dwyer of the Bureau of Reclamation attributes the falling water levels to lower snowfall amounts this past winter -- the lake is getting just 73 percent of what has become the expected inflow from snowpacks.

The power crisis in California is not a factor, she said.

Lake Mead supplies water to Las Vegas and parts of California; for example, cities there use the water for public swimming pools and agriculture.

"If you start off with less, it will certainly go down lower just with regular use," Dwyer said. "Basically, this time of year has increased demands downstream. This has nothing to do with power. This increase is solely based on downstream demands for municipal and irrigation uses."

Dwyer said the current levels are not cause for concern. After all, operations continued as normal when the lake fell to 1,181 feet in 1994 and 1,178 feet in 1995. Lake levels the past three years have hovered near 1,200 feet.

J.C. Davis of the Southern Nevada Water Authority agreed. Davis said the water supply isn't jeopardized until levels fall below 1,080 feet. The water authority operates two intakes -- 187 1/2 feet and 137 1/2 feet below the surface -- that provide water for the Las Vegas Valley.

Marina operators, who are forced to spend thousands to reposition their docks, aren't so confident.

The Las Vegas Bay Marina has moved its docks four times this year, said marina manager Gail Kaiser.

Kaiser said workers moved the marina 40 feet two weeks ago. Another move of an additional 60 feet is planned this week.

The past few years, she said, the docks were moved using existing anchors, but this year they have had to be moved so far out that the anchors had to be repositioned as well.

The floating docks are attached by cables, which allows them to be moved according to water levels. The docks usually are moved twice annually -- in the spring and fall.

Kaiser said that each move costs about $20,000 and expects costs associated with moving docks to reach $100,000 by fall.

Each time docks are moved, said Kaiser, phone, sewer and fuel lines must be extended. What's more, walkways must be added to allow people access to the docks.

Jim Gomes, general manager of Callville Bay Resort, said he wants to move marina docks 30 to 40 feet this week and expects about $60,000 in moving expenses this summer.

Las Vegas resident William Clark, who owns a slip at Callville, finds himself walking further and further to reach his boat.

"There were rumors that they would be moving us back 80 feet," said Clark. "I don't feel good about it at all. It's already two football fields to get to this place."

Gomes said that visitors and boaters must remain vigilant, as the situation will continue to change.

"Each time they visit they will have to get familiar with the bay again," said Gomes. "One day they may have gone one way, but the next day there may be a big rock in the way, so they would have to go another way."