The National Park Service which manages Lake Mead has released its Sustainable Low Water Access Plan. We want the NPS to hear from recreation users and let them know the importance that recreation provides on Lake Mead, not just for entertainment but for natural and cultural resources as well as economic benefits. NPS needs to hear that providing continued access for motorized users such as boat ramps and other infrastructure is crucial and nonnegotiable. The NPS shouldn’t use water levels as a reason to ignore current infrastructure, because water levels will fluctuate year to year. It is the Park’s responsibility to adapt to water levels and provide the resources needed for the public to enjoy Lake Mead. One proposal given is no future boat launch extensions or relocations, close all infrastructure and facilities related to the marinas and eventually remove all infrastructure permanently when funding is available.
Share your feedback with the National Park Service before December 23, 2022.
Full Briefing
NPS is going to address recreational concerns as water levels have dropped with the following questions:
| Topic Questions: |
| 1. Given the current water levels and future projections, what experiences in Lake Mead National Recreation Area are most important to you? What kind of experiences do you want future visitors to have when they come to the park? |
| 2. Given your response to Question #1 regarding important experiences for you and future visitors, what barriers might get in the way of enjoying or visiting Lake Mead National Recreation Area? What barriers might prevent you from achieving your desired experiences? |
| 3. Please provide input on the preliminary management concepts. What do you recommend the planning team consider, to address barriers and/or key issues, given the rapid decline in water levels? |
| 4. What actions is the park currently taking to manage these issues that you’d like to see continue? |
| 5. Other thoughts you’d like to share with the project team? |
Major Concerns BRC has with the proposals:
No boat launch extensions or relocations
Develop reservation systems for the Lake
No marina services
Close the trailer village and comfort station and related wastewater treatment
No potable water (drinking water)
End concession contracts
No overnight use
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, outdoor recreation had a record breaking year in 2021. Outdoor recreation now accounts for $821 billion in economic activity. For reference, the oil and gas industry is $812 billion. Outdoor recreation is popular. It is an economic juggernaut. Yet, public land agencies act as if this nearly $1 trillion dollar industry is optional or an afterthought. Instead of building new roads, trails, campgrounds, and infrastructure to accommodate the new growth in outdoor recreation, land managers are relentlessly closing public lands for the public to use.
Motorized forms of recreation account for a shocking $78 billion in economic value. NPS needs to be accommodating outdoor recreation users, especially motorized users. NPS should be doing everything in it’s power to maintain these resources to protect access and economic value.
NPS stated, “The park is under increased pressure to protect and preserve archeological resources (submerged and terrestrial), historic structures, and cultural landscapes from impacts” in the planning document. Therefore, motorized users need to show equal if not more pressure to protect the national treasure that is Lake Mead and recreation on and around its waters. The NPS released their proposal and Environmental Assessment that you can read to learn more.
There will also be public meetings to address this proposal:
| Dec 6, 2022 | 5:00 PM | MST | Meadview Civic Association Building 247 E. Meadview Blvd Meadview, Arizona 86444 |
| Dec 7, 2022 | 12:00 PM | PDT | Bureau of Reclamation Building 100 Date Street Building 100 Boulder City, Nevada 89005 |
| Dec 8, 2022 | 5:00 PM | MST | City of Kingman Government Complex, Powerhouse Conference Room 120 W. Andy Devine Ave Kingman, Arizona 86401 |
| Dec 14, 2022 | 4:00 PM | PST | Virtual https://tinyurl.com/LAKE-Dec-Public-Meeting |
