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Fishing piers that have not been used for more than 15 years hang over where water once was in Boulder Harbor at Lake Mead.
Saturday, Jan. 15, 2011 | 1:55 a.m.
Special coverage
Map of Lake Mead National Recreation Area
Lake Mead National Recreation Area
601 Nevada Way, Boulder City
As long as snow continues to fall steadily in the Rocky Mountains this winter, Lake Mead should receive a much-needed injection of water, according to projections released this week by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.
The thirsty lake, which supplies much of the water for the Las Vegas Valley, could see its surface level rise more than two dozen feet, according to government officials.
Snow accumulation in the Colorado River Basin above Lake Powell in Utah is more than 30 percent above historical levels, the bureau estimated. If that number holds steady through the spring, Lake Powell’s depth could rise to 3,643 feet, a trigger point that would prompt the bureau to release at least an additional 3.13 million acre-feet of water into Lake Mead over the summer.
As part of the Colorado River Compact, Lake Powell annually releases 8.23 million acre-feet of water into Lake Mead. According to agency statistics, if the higher threshold were reached at Lake Powell, a total of 11.36 million acre-feet of water or more would flow into Lake Mead by September.
Andrew Munoz, spokesman for the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, said 100,000 acre-feet is equal to about 1 foot of elevation on the lake. If 3.13 million additional acre-feet of water was pumped into the lake at once, the surface level would rise more than 30 feet.
Munoz cautioned, however, that the water would be released gradually so the total change in water level would likely be less, especially when factors like evaporation were incorporated.
Still, it’s great news for Lake Mead, where water levels have dipped significantly in recent years. Since the drought struck the Colorado River Basin in 1999, Lake Mead has dropped to historic lows, dipping to 1,082 feet in October and forcing the closure of several boat launch ramps. When full, the lake should be at 1,220 feet.
Less snow has accumulated since the drought began. At this time last year, Munoz said accumulation was about 20 percent below the historical norm.
This year, he said, more storm systems have been moving through the region.
“It’s encouraging, but we’re not throwing a party yet,” Munoz said. “It’s kind of a waiting game. We’re trying to temper our optimism.”
The Bureau of Reclamation projected a 76 percent chance that Lake Powell would reach the 3,643-feet threshold by April 1, the deadline for a decision to be made.
Until then, the staff at Lake Mead will be “watching closely,” Munoz said.
If lake levels increase, Munoz said, boat launch conditions should be more stable, allowing more ramps to remain open. The National Park Service generally estimates that every 20-foot drop in water levels costs $6 million, Munoz said, because the boat launch ramps must be extended and crews are hired to do the work.
Money could be saved for the future in case Lake Mead’s level falls again, Munoz said, or utilized for other projects, such as improving the park’s facilities.
If a trend holds and the lake continues to see a larger flow from Lake Powell in the next few years, Munoz said the park would also explore reopening boat launch sites, like the one at Overton Beach, which had been closed indefinitely.
That's a lot of water.
Good news for the lake. Keep snowing up north!
Great article and outstanding pictures of the past and present. Can't wait for the finished book of St Thomas.
Nature gives and nature takes!
11 year drought? When is it no longer called a drought and just becomes part of a normal weather system? 15 years? 20 years?
11 years is an awfully long time to still be calling it a drought.
Lake Mead looks horrible with the bathtub ring and low water levels. Good news about the 24 feet increase. Let's go back to the days when they needed to use the spillover. That's when Lake Mead looked great
Gee, I'll drink to that!
This is good news, but it wont make any difference unless we enforce stricter regulations on water conservation. Nevada is 20 years behind on this for some reason.
"The Bureau of Reclamation projected a 76 percent chance that Lake Powell would reach the 3,643-feet threshold (that would allow greater releases)."
That translates to a 3 to 1 chance for the greater releases. Not really enough to get excited about. There are still 11 weeks to go until April 1. The snowpack situation could easily change.
"If a trend holds and the lake continues to see a larger flow from Lake Powell in the next few years ..."
This is so misleading. The writer is implying that a "trend" can be foreseen based on a 76 percent chance of occurrence. The only trend that should be acknowledged, is the existing trend. The existing trend is for Lake Mead water level to decrease or stay the same.
The chart at this link: http://www.usbr.gov/lc/region/g4000/hour... shows the Lake Mead Water Elevation at Hoover Dam for each month since 1935.
Current Elevation: 1086.30 feet, December 2010
Highest Recorded Elevation: 1225.44 feet, July 1983
Last Peak Elevation: 1215.76 feet, October 1998
Last Year of Recovery: 2005, 11 of 12 months had higher peaks than previous year
Since January 2006, which was the last month that a year over year elevation increase was recorded, there have been 59 consecutive months where the year over year elevation of Lake Mead decreased.
As NEWYORKWASTESTAXES points out, Lake Mead hit a low in the 1960's (1088.14 feet in December 1964). This was mainly due to the fact that Lake Powell was filling. Wikipedia says, "Upon completion of Glen Canyon Dam on September 13, 1963, the Colorado River began to back up... . It took 17 years for (Lake Powell) to rise to the high water mark, on June 22, 1980." In June 1980, Lake Mead recorded an elevation of 1202.27 feet, so both reservoirs were flush at that time.
Take a long hard look at the numbers and you will see that the Colorado River system is simply not providing the volume of water necessary to sustain the development and corresponding population that it was designed to serve. Pollyanna news pieces like this one are simply reckless.
Though this is GOOD NEWS, I still say they need to stiffen the water restrictions and force people into conserving.Something people really don't care too much about around here.I intend to buy and move into another house within the months to come.I have every intention of replacing "all" of the waters wasters I've seen in all these houses I've been looking at.We are far from being out of the woods on this one.I want to see the state put there foot down on this issue...rather than putting it in their mouth (again)
This is a kick in the pants to Pat and her doom and gloom gang at LVVWD.