Beneath the vast expanse of the Nevada sky stands the Lake Mead Boulder Basin ET Station. This may seem like any other monitoring station but its purpose is deeply intertwined with the story of Lake Mead. What secrets does this station hold about the lake’s ever-changing story?
Lake Mead is a reservoir. It was formed by the Hoover Dam on the Colorado River. The lake sits in Nevada and Arizona. It lies 24 miles east of Las Vegas. Lake Mead is the largest reservoir in the US when measured by water capacity.
The lake supplies water to Arizona California and Nevada. It also supplies some of Mexico. Nearly 20 million people rely on it. Large areas of farmland depend on it.
Lake Mead has a maximum length of 112 miles. Its greatest depth is 532 feet. The surface elevation reaches 1229 feet above sea level at full capacity. The surface area spans 247 square miles. It can hold 28.23 million acre-feet of water at its maximum.
Since 1983 Lake Mead has remained below full capacity. This is due to drought and increased water demand. As of May 2022 Lake Mead held just 26.63% of its full capacity. That is 7.517 million acre-feet. In June 2021 levels dropped below the previous all-time low. That low was 9.328 million acre-feet in July 2016. The lake never returned to that level.
By December 2024 water conservation helped. Lake Mead’s water levels rose 16 feet over two years. The Lake Mead Boulder Basin ET Station helps track these changes. It provides crucial data for managing this vital resource.
Ancestral Puebloans once settled the area now Lake Mead. Many archaeological sites were submerged when the lake was created. The most representative site is called the Lost City.
The lake was named after Elwood Mead. He was the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation commissioner. He served from 1924 to 1936. This was during the planning and construction of the Boulder Canyon Project. This project created the dam and lake.
Lake Mead became the Boulder Dam Recreation Area in 1936. The National Park Service administered it. In 1947 the name changed to Lake Mead National Recreation Area. Lake Mohave and the Shivwits Plateau were added later. Both lakes and the surrounding area offer year-round recreation.
Hoover Dam’s accumulated water forced communities to evacuate. St. Thomas Nevada was the most notable. The last resident left in 1938. Today the ruins of St. Thomas are visible when Lake Mead’s water level is low. Lake Mead also covered Colorado River landings of Callville and Rioville Nevada. It also covered Bonelli’s Ferry.
A high-water mark is visible when water levels are low. This white mark shows mineral deposits on previously submerged surfaces. The Lake Mead Boulder Basin ET Station helps monitor these changing shorelines.
Boulder Basin is the large body of water closest to the Hoover Dam. It connects to Virgin Basin through The Narrows. The Virgin River and Muddy River flow into the Overton Arm. Jagged mountain ranges surround Lake Mead. They create a scenic backdrop especially at sunset.
Lake Mead faces challenges from drought and water usage. The lake gets most of its water from snowmelt in the Rocky Mountains. Outflow includes evaporation and delivery to other states and Mexico. This often results in a net annual deficit.
Lake Mead offers recreation like boating fishing swimming and water skiing. Marinas include Las Vegas Boat Harbor and Callville Bay. The Desert Princess a three-level paddle wheeler cruises to the Hoover Dam.
A Boeing B-29 Superfortress crashed into Lake Mead in 1948. It was testing a missile guidance system. The wreck remains at the bottom of the lake.
The Lake Mead Boulder Basin ET Station stands as a silent observer. It is a testament to the ongoing story of water management recreation and natural wonder. It is a place where the past and present converge under the Nevada sun.