News Release

Lake Mead National Recreation Area Invites Public Input for Proposed Cottonwood Cove Road Improvements

Date: May 3, 2023

Contact: [e-mail]

Lake Mead National Recreation Area Invites Public Input for Proposed Cottonwood Cove Road Improvements

BOULDER CITY, Nev. – The National Park Service (NPS) is seeking public input on an environmental assessment that evaluates the impacts of improving the existing Cottonwood Cove Road. This road provides visitors with the only vehicular access from US Route 95 in Searchlight, Clark County, Nevada to Cottonwood Cove at the northern end of Lake Mohave. The Environmental Assessment is available for review and comment for 30 days via the following website: http://parkplanning.nps.gov/LAKE

Cottonwood Cove Road passes through Lake Mead National Recreation Area, as well as the Piute Eldorado Valley Area of Critical Environmental Concern, which is managed by the Bureau of Land Management. Cottonwood Cove currently offers a variety of recreational opportunities, including one campground, a trailer home/recreational vehicle park, a marina and boat launch, a motel with a marina store and café, a fish cleaning station, a swim beach, and a picnic area. Under current conditions, water access to Lake Mead is becoming increasingly difficult, making safe and reliable access to Lake Mohave more important for maintaining recreation opportunities at Lake Mead National Recreation Area.

The environmental assessment presents two alternatives for managing Cottonwood Cove Road, describes the environment that would be impacted by the alternatives, and analyzes the environmental consequences of implementing the alternatives. Under the no-action alternative, no improvements would be made to Cottonwood Cove Road, though routine maintenance would continue. Under the proposed action, modifications would be made to Cottonwood Cove Road to improve visitor experience, safety, accessibility, and park operations.

This environmental assessment has been prepared in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and in accordance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA). The NPS is seeking public comments on this project in compliance with both NEPA and Section 106 of NHPA. The NPS seeks comments on potential impacts on historic properties in accordance with Section 106 of the NHPA. Public comments will be accepted through June 1, 2023 via one of the following methods:
 

• Online through the PEPC website (preferred method) at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/LAKE

 

• Mail comments (postmarked by June 1, 2023) to:
  • Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Compliance OfficeATTN: Cottonwood Cove Access Road Project601 Nevada Way, Boulder City, NV 89005

Comments will not be accepted in any other way than those specified above. Bulk comments in any format (hard copy or electronic) submitted on behalf of others will not be accepted. Please note that your entire comment, including your personal information, may be made publicly available at any time. You can request that we withhold your personal identifying information from public view, but we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.
 

- NPS -

Lake Mead National Recreation Area is the only national park minutes from Las Vegas that offers Joshua trees, slot canyons and night skies illuminated by the Milky Way. The park’s rocks are as red as fire and the mountains are purple majesties. Lake Mead is the country’s first and largest national recreation area and a top ten most visited national park in the country. Follow us at www.nps.gov/lake or on social media.