Why is lake mead dangerous

At Lake Mead National Recreation Area, visitors enjoy ample sunshine, miles of open water and a roughly 1-in-300,000 chance of dying.

Of course, some media outlets can’t help but focus on the negative.

Outside magazine has ranked Lake Mead as America’s deadliest national park, based on a recent analysis of fatalities over the past 10 years.

From 2006 through 2016, 275 people lost their lives at the 1.5 million-acre park east of Las Vegas. That’s about 100 more than at second-deadliest Yosemite National Park and 120 more than third-deadliest Grand Canyon National Park, according to Outside.

WATER, HIGH VISITATION AND RISK

Lake Mead spokeswoman Christie Vanover said no one wants to top a list like that, but there are a host of reasons why the recreation area sees as many deaths as it does.

“Lake Mead is one of the most visited parks in the U.S., and usually our visitors are involved in activities that involve some risk,” she explained. “Our park is 87 percent land, but a lot of our visitation is on water. Unfortunately, drownings account for most of the deaths at Lake Mead.”

More than 81 million people visited the recreation area over the past decade, and 99.9997 percent of them lived to tell about it. Among those who didn’t, the three most common causes of death were drowning (87), natural causes (59) and motor vehicle crashes (39). Another 21 died of unknown causes, 19 committed suicide and 13 were killed in boating accidents, according to park data.

Vanover said all accidental deaths in the recreation area are examined by the park’s fatality review board. Lake Mead officials also use visitor surveys, public health assessments and National Park statistics like those collected by Outside magazine to spot trends and shape safety programs.

Adam Kelsey, chief law enforcement ranger for the National Park Service at Lake Mead, said a spike in drownings several years ago prompted stepped-up patrols, new safety measures and more outreach aimed at informing visitors before they hit the water.

When rangers began to see more rescues and drownings along the shoreline, the park set up life jacket loaner stations at Boulder Beach and Cottonwood Cove, two of the most popular swimming spots during the hot summer months.

LOST LIFE JACKETS, NOT SWIMMERS

Kelsey said they have lost a lot of life jackets since the program debuted three years ago, but they haven’t lost any swimmers in those areas. “We have not had a shoreline drowning since 2014,” he said.

The loaner program is now being expanded to include Katherine Landing and Princess Cove on the Arizona side of Lake Mohave.

The park is also getting ready to launch a new Spanish-language public service campaign about the importance of life jackets in hopes of reaching Lake Mead’s sizable demographic of Hispanic visitors.

Despite the park’s reputation as a party destination, Vanover said only a small percentage of drownings — and fatalities in general — seem to involve alcohol. Weather, particularly wind, tends to be a much bigger factor.

“It’s really not the party crowd. It’s people who don’t understand the power of the lake,” she said. “Some people think it’s like a swimming pool.”

Kelsey said there are three common mistakes that lead to drownings at Lake Mead: people wading out from shore or diving off a cliff into the water without realizing how hard it can be to swim against the wind or the currents; people misjudging distances and their ability to swim from one cove to another; and boat operators diving into the water without showing anyone else on board how to start the engine or navigate the boat into position for a rescue.

Kelsey said a lot of Lake Mead’s drowning victims are people who considered themselves “good or very good swimmers.”

Vanover said park officials will do everything they can to make Lake Mead as safe as it can be, but visitors must do their part by wearing their life jackets, driving the speed limit and observing safety rules and posted warnings.

“No park wants to be known as a place where people lose their lives,” she said. “We want people to get home safely so they can return again another day. We need their help to make that happen.”

A previous version of his article misstated the percentage of visitors who died while visiting Lake Mead National Recreation Area.

Contact Henry Brean at or 702-383-0350. Follow @RefriedBrean on Twitter.

No one chooses to plan their vacation around destinations that just don’t excite them. And a lake in the middle of a desert surrounded by nothing but rocks doesn’t sound like a riveting travel trip.

Lake Mead is just that. However, it may be a good thing that it’s so boring – it’s one of those places you may need to avoid.

We dig into the specifics of this reservoir and why you may need to scratch it off your travel list.

About Lake Mead

Created by the building of the Hoover Dam across the Colorado River, Lake Mead is the largest reservoir in the United States. It supplies water to California, Arizona, Nevada, and parts of Mexico. It’s 112 miles long, with a shoreline of 759 miles and a surface area of more than 247 square miles. When it’s full to capacity, the lake can hold 28.23 million acre-feet of water. But suffering drought conditions since 1983, Lake Mead is currently only 26.63% full.

The reservoir got its name from Elwood Mead, the commissioner of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. He was head of the Boulder Canyon Project that built the Hoover Dam. The Bureau labeled the resulting lake as separate bodies for identification and location purposes. 

Most of the water that fills Lake Mead comes from spring runoff in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, Wyoming, and Utah. The Glen Canyon Dam upstream on the Colorado River modulates water coming into the lake. And, with drought conditions since 2014, Lake Powell and Lake Mead have been at all-time low capacities. 

Pro Tip: Lake Mead isn’t the only thing to see in the Mohave Desert. Check out these 9 Best Things To Do in The Mojave Desert.

How Deep is Lake Mead?

When the lake is full, its deepest point is 532 feet. This means that a full Lake Mead would be 1,229 feet above sea level. So far, the lake has never been full, but the Bureau of Reclamation is currently trying to fill the lake and Lake Powell above it to prolong its life.

This would, however, require taking even more water from the Rocky Mountain States of Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming.

Because of chronic drought conditions, Lake Mead has been getting lower. That reveals much of what was flooded during the building of the dam. St. Thomas, Callville, and Rioville in Nevada communities were told to evacuate before the reservoir filled up in 1938. You can see the remnants when the lake is at low levels.

During the construction of Hoover Dam, authorities laid tracks to bring in supplies, like aggregate rocks. Today, these too lie underneath the waters, along with a 125-foot-long concrete tunnel that advanced divers traverse in total darkness. Plane crashes like the one attempting a water landing in 1949 sit on the bottom of the lake, preserved for generations to come. 

But the most mysterious plane wreck was a B-29 Superfortress that was on a classified mission. It carried a prototype guidance system for ballistic missiles. When flying over Lake Mead, the plane glanced off the water. That one move tore three of the four engines off the plane, requiring the pilot to ditch it in the water. Fortunately, the crew scrambled to safety, but the plane now hides in the lake’s depths.

Shipwrecks are also well-known in these parts, with a common burial ground now named Wreck Alley, just off Sentinel Island. One of the most popular relics is a 38-foot wooden sailboat called the Southern Cross. World War II enthusiasts will want to see the Higgins craft that was once used to survey the Colorado River but now sits on the lake bottom.

With so many opportunities for unusual activities in and around Lake Mead, it is hard to imagine any reason to bypass this desert lake. However, just in case you’re looking for an excuse to get out of a trip here, we’ve listed all the reasons not to. But we’re sure you’ll choose to visit Lake Mead, even if only to prove your courage!

Algal Blooms

Cottonwood Cove and Nelson Landing have experienced blue-green algae blooms in the past.  This particular type of algae can produce toxins that affect the human liver and can kill pets and livestock.

So it’s best to stay away from the water. But, to their credit, the National Park Service (NPS) has quickly responded and marked areas that may harbor the algae.

Water Crisis

Lake Mead is currently at its lowest point since 1938. Its level is 1,044.03 feet above sea level. Yet, at full capacity, the water level should be 1,229 feet above sea level. The Bureau of Reclamation has marked a low point of 895 feet above sea level as a “dead pool.”

This is where the lake won’t have enough water in it to produce as much hydroelectric power. It won’t be able to provide enough drinking water for communities in California, Arizona, and Nevada.

Dead pool is still years away from happening, but with prolonged drought, it’s a concern.

Dead Bodies Found

Earlier this spring, when Lake Mead’s waters continued to lower, boaters found a 55-gallon barrel with human skeletal remains inside. The estimation is the deceased was shot and killed in the mid-1970s or early 1980s, placed in the barrel, then into the lake.

Six days later, another body turned up in the Callville area of the lake. However, it appears there was no foul play suspected in that death. 

Dangerous Wildlife

Its location in the Mohave Desert threatens dangerous animals. Additionally, even though Lake Mead is a water recreation area, you may still have contact with rattlesnakes, scorpions, and other desert wildlife.

Other reptiles and mammals still call this region home, but most will leave you alone if you don’t disturb them. Watch where you place your hands and feet, and be mindful of your surroundings.

Pro Tip: Learn more about what are The Most Dangerous Creatures at Lake Mead.

Extreme Temperatures

Extreme temperatures can swing 70 degrees up or down within the same 24-hour period at Lake Mead. It can be challenging, especially in the summer season.

Staying hydrated is the first concern, and protecting yourself from the sun is the second. Hypothermia can be a real problem in the late fall and winter, as evening temperatures drop precariously low without warning.

Stay Away from Lake Mead

Lake Mead is a desert region where concerns about high temperatures, low water intake, and dangerous animals can be a bit scary. If you do decide to venture out there, be very conscious of your surroundings. Also, be careful of the water with its toxic algae and frigid temperatures in the winter. 

Will you bravely take the trip to Lake Mead? Tell us in the comments!

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