Lake Mead's receding waters expose hidden mountains and new boating hazards

Lake Mead, the nation’s largest reservoir, has fallen to about 27% of its historic storage, uncovering a landscape of mountains, buttes and trees that existed before Hoover Dam’s completion in 1936. The dramatic drop has exposed rocky outcrops and submerged mesas, turning them into navigation hazards for recreational vessels. Lake Mead National Recreation Area rangers are moving buoys and warning boaters to carry up-to-date nautical maps, reliable communication gear and to employ spotters while traversing unfamiliar waters.

Visitors are encouraged to submit GPS locations of newly emerged obstacles to help authorities track the changing shoreline. The water shortage also threatens California’s water allocation, with a federal plan expected to cut the state’s share by about 10% through 2028.