Ahead of the busy Memorial Day weekend out on Lake Mead, the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) and National Park Service (NPS) are pushing out the message of safety for all recreationists.
Last year, as water levels were dropping to historic lows, Lake Mead Recreation Area saw a little over 20,000 people visit over the course of Memorial Day weekend.
This year, rising water levels likely mean rising visitation numbers.
Memorial Day Safety Push: Life Jackets and No Pool Toys
The week leading up to Memorial Day weekend is recognized as National Safe Boating Week, a national campaign where state and federal agencies promote safe boating.
“The most important thing we're pushing is that there are enough life jackets onboard for everybody. Proper size, they're ready to go,” said Emilee Cain, a game warden with NDOW. “If anything happens, you need to put them on. The big thing is any child under 13 needs to be wearing it at all times on a boat unless they're in an enclosed compartment.”
Cain said law enforcement would be covering from Lake Mead all the way down to Laughlin this weekend. Last week, she said a special operation with Arizona Game and Fish issued 55 citations in about four hours.
“Some people sometimes can be rude, but I get that they sometimes don't like seeing me and think I'm coming to ruin their day, which I'm not making sure people are safe and having fun.”
NPS officials are also stressing to leave pool toys at home. Many people often use pool noodles or other inflation toys when in the water, but park rangers said those present major safety concerns.
“The problem is beach balls are $2 at Walmart, the wind will pick them up and blow them off,” said Jonathan Jackson, a Mojave District Ranger with NPS. “And people want their pool toy back, they go swimming after them. And then it ends poorly. Your life is worth more than that.”
Pool toys have been outlawed on the lake and he said proper life jackets will be US Coast Guard certified.
Jackson also stressed driving the speed limit in the recreation area due to the windy roads and getting a sober ride home for those who have been drinking.
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Water Levels
Due to a record snowpack and a recent water release from Glen Canyon Dam, Lake Mead's water levels have risen about five feet so far. The latest Bureau of Reclamation estimates show levels could rise another 15 to 20 feet by the fall.
Those rising levels are translating to more ramps opening and more people coming back for boating.
It stands in stark contrast to last fall when Lake Mead officials were holding public comment meetings to determine the future of the lake. One option floated was to shut it down to all motorized watercraft. And now, at least for the time being, those concerns and plans have evolved and subsided.
Another sign of the big turnaround this season is the low water intake valve. The top of the valve was first revealed last year when water levels plummeted. More and more was revealed as the year went on, but recent increases have begun submerging it once again.
“It is just barely underwater at this point,” said Justin Pattison, deputy superintendent with Lake Mead. “So I anticipate, given the Bureau of Reclamation, its current projections, that intake will be under several feet of water by the end of the summer.”
Boat Ramps
The record low Lake Mead water levels made opening launch ramps difficult last year. And for those that did open, wait times were hours long.
With the water level rising, all five ramps are now open, and park officials expect them to remain open for the entire calendar year.
Christa Johnston, chief of state for Lake Mead Recreation Area, said there will be intermittent early morning closures to move launch ramps and courtesy docks, but otherwise, expect them to remain open.
“Due to the welcomed reprieve of water level declines and now the water level incline, we anticipate that the longest boaters may have to wait at any one launch ramp, maybe just at a maximum of two hours,” said Johnston. “Just pack your patience and you'll get on the water eventually as long as you're safe.”