News Release

NPS Releases Environmental Assessment for General Management Plan Amendment/Low Water Plan for Lake Mead National Recreation Area

Date: November 30, 2018

National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior

LAKE MEAD NATIONAL RECREATION AREA News Release

For Immediate Release: November 30, 2018
Release No.: 2018-58
Contact: 702-293-8691

NPS Releases Environmental Assessment for General Management Plan Amendment/Low Water Plan for Lake Mead National Recreation Area

BOULDER CITY, Nevada – The National Park Service is seeking public comment on an environmental assessment for a General Management Plan Amendment to address low-water conditions at Lake Mead National Recreation Area.

The plan would provide a long-term strategy for addressing operational needs to maintain lake access and provide safe and diverse recreational opportunities at lake elevations above 950 feet. The plan will lead to decision-making regarding the suitability and feasibility of the continued use of existing marinas, launch ramps, and other water-based visitor facilities, and identify steps necessary for their continued operation, if possible.

The environmental assessment provides a decision-making framework that analyzes all reasonable alternatives to meet the objectives of the proposal, evaluates potential issues and impacts to resources and values, and identifies mitigation measures to lessen the degree and extent of these impacts.

• Under the no action alternative, launch ramps and marina services would be discontinued at insufficient water depths.
• Under alternative A, the park’s preferred alternative, launch ramps and existing marina services would continue to an elevation of 950 feet, where possible.
• Under alternative B, launch ramps and modified marina services would continue to an elevation of 950 feet, where possible.
• Under alternative C, launch ramps would continue to an elevation of 950 feet, where possible. Marina services would be discontinued.

Because public participation is essential to the success of the planning process, the National Park Service encourages the public to comment on the plan. Public meetings will be held Dec. 10 and 11 to present alternatives and to outline the planning process.

The meetings will be held from 6-8 p.m. local time at the following locations:

• Dec. 10, Mohave County Library, Kingman Branch, 3269 North Burbank Street, Kingman, Arizona
• Dec. 11, James I. Gibson Library, 100 West Lake Mead Pkwy., Henderson, Nevada

The document is available for review online at http://parkplanning.nps.gov. Comments may be submitted electronically via the website. Written comments should be mailed to Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Compliance Office, 601 Nevada Way, Boulder City, NV 89005. Comments must be received by December 31, 2018.

-NPS-