The National Parks including Lake Mead National Recreation Area are home to complex native communities of plants and animals that have developed over millions of years. This natural heritage is threatened by the invasion of exotic plants and animals.
Occasionally a bloom of Green Algae growth appears at some shoreline areas in Lake Mead. It takes several factors for algae to bloom such as abnormal weather conditions, (cold, then warm, then mild alternating over a several day period).
“Swimmer’s Itch” is the name given to a condition caused by flatworm larva. The naturally occurring parasite needs ducks, snails and warm shallow waters to flourish. It is common in lakes in 30 states. While not a persistent, widespread problem, the “Swimmer’s Itch” parasite is believed to be present in Lakes Mead and Mohave.
Did You Know? Some desert flower annuals avoid drought and intense heat by surviving as seeds stored in the soil, remaining dormant until conditions are just right to bloom into breathtaking flowers. more...