Friday, Dec. 5, 2003 | 9:39 a.m.
The drought is taking another boat ramp out of commission at Lake Mead.
The Las Vegas Bay launch ramp will close Dec. 15, the National Park Service announced Thursday.
The ramp has been popular with some fishermen and is one of the ramps closest to Las Vegas. However, exact usage numbers aren't available for the ramp and some boaters said the ramp has been used less often since the Las Vegas Bay Marina was moved to Horsepower Cove about a year ago.
Jason Foss, service manager at Advantage Marine of Las Vegas, said since the marina moved, people who liked the security of leaving their vehicles near the marina have stopped using the bay ramp. The lowering water levels have also made the lake very shallow at that ramp, he said.
Also, Foss said, "It's not like there's not a lot of other ramps in the area, so it's not really a big deal."
The two closest launch ramps are Callville Bay, about 20 miles away, and Boulder Harbor, about 10 miles away, said Roxanne Dey, spokeswoman for the Lake Mead National Recreation Area.
The bay ramp will be the third to close due to dropping water levels.
The Pearce Ferry launch ramp closed Aug. 22, 2001, and the Government Wash launch ramp was closed Sept. 26, 2001.
The lake is now at about 1,140 feet, or roughly 80 feet below full.
The Park Service statement said the bay launch ramp needs to be closed because of the lowering water levels combined with the build-up of the lake-floor there because of erosion elsewhere.
"We regret having to take this action," Park Superintendent William K. Dickinson said in written statement issued to the press. "Lake Mead water levels are at 40-year lows and the delta continues its expansion into Lake Mead due to erosion in the Las Vegas Wash. We feel the launch ramp is no longer safe or practical for boaters at this time. We will continue to investigate the feasibility of using alternate launch ramps in the area."
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