Google Earth Hemenway Harbor is Lake Mead NRA’s most popular and heavily utilized launch ramp and is closest to the Las Vegas metro area. This construction project directly contributes to accomplishing the outcomes detailed in the Sustainable Low Water Access Plan (the Plan) and Environmental Assessment’s (EA). Specifically, the selected preferred alternative for Hemenway Harbor will allow LAKE to extend the launch ramp down to approximately 1,000 feet to maintain recreational opportunities and concessions services in the area. The Hemenway Harbor extension project is anticipated to begin June 2, 2025, and last through the summer. Lake Mead NRA and Las Vegas Boat Harbor, the area concessions partner, will routinely provide coordinated updates to park visitors and marina patrons over the course of the project to ensure accurate and timely information is distributed to protect life, safety, and recreational enjoyment in the Boulder Basin. Colorado River Basin water levels are anticipated to fluctuate over the next several years and current projections indicate motorized boating on Lake Mead will be sufficiently managed through at least 2026. However, the NPS must be prepared to adjust and respond if water levels decline to roughly 1,000 feet. Significant investments and cooperation with concessions partners and stakeholders will be required to ensure or re-establish boat launching and other visitor services on Lake Mead. The Plan was approved and signed in November 2023. It provides strategic direction to maintain motorized boat launching and related commercial services at five access locations on Lake Mead, including Hemenway Harbor, along with facility and other systems needs. The Plan included robust public engagement and met all necessary National Environmental Protection Act and National Historic Preservation Act requirements. 
Google Earth satellite image Frequently Asked Questions about the Hemenway Boat Launch Extension Project This project is the first of several construction phases that support the NPS’s selected preferred alternative for the Sustainable Low Water Access Plan (the Plan) and Environmental Assessment (EA), which was approved in November 2023. Specifically at Hemenway Harbor, the NPS committed to extend the launch ramp down to 1,000 feet to ensure lake access for motorized boating and other water-based recreation services would be maintained in the event of lowering water levels.
Hemenway Harbor will be open and operational during the extension project. There may be a limited number of necessary adjustments that temporarily close the ramp during early morning hours or require crews to manage traffic flow. Any such event would be pre-determined and this schedule would be shared with the public in advance. With the exception of these limited accessibility or safety changes, the launch ramp will be open to all park visitors this summer.
Lake Mead’s current and projected water levels through Summer are favorable to complete phase one of the construction that will extend the launch ramp approximately 200 feet to an elevation of approximately 1,020 feet. Summer weather is also the most favorable to complete engineering and construction both above and below the water with as few disruptions as possible, like high winds and water clarity.
Hemenway Harbor launch ramp will be reduced to 1 lane and the ramp's courtesy docks will be reduced down to one-half. Traffic direction on the water will also be routed around the closed construction zone, cited by clearly marked buoys. As a result, visitors may experience extended wait times to launch and retrieve boats up to several hours on particularly busy weekends and holidays. On land there will be designated construction staging areas which will restrict some shoreline and front-line parking space, but these will have limited impact on recreational access.
We understand that long wait times may be discouraging, but if you are committed to getting out on Lake Mead this summer, please pack your patience! Whenever possible, recreators should consider visiting the park on weekdays, as wait times are likely to be shorter. There are four other launching areas on Lake Mead: Callville Bay and Echo Bay in Nevada, and Temple Bar and South Cove in Arizona. Boaters are also welcome to visit Lake Mohave.
Boat launching and retrievals are multi-step processes that require attention to detail and safety guidelines that, if not followed, could have disastrous consequences. All launching when outside of a designated launch ramp area is discouraged, and will be done so at the boater's risk, as boats and people have been known to get stuck in the mud when launching from shore. The park urges boaters to use extreme caution and prioritize public safety.
PWCs and non-motorized vessels will be directed to launch from the designated PWC launch beach, located just north of the Hemenway launch ramp. Please follow posted signs directing you to the PWC launch beach.
All visitor services provided by the Las Vegas Boat Harbor and Lake Mead Marina will be open and accessible during construction. However, boaters should expect increased vessel traffic and congestion throughout the duration of the project. Visitors are strongly encouraged to fuel their boats before arriving at the park and to routinely check the concessioner's webpage for marina updates.
Lake Mead NRA held multiple public meetings and comment periods to offer the public, gateway communities, businesses, and park recreators opportunities to discuss the EA before the Plan was approved. These conversations directly influenced the Plan's necessary operations to Hemenway Harbor’s launch ramp, marina operations, facilities, and services. With respect to the Plan’s construction operations and phases, the NPS consults directly with project contract operators and engineers.
Public safety is the ultimate priority for Lake Mead NRA and its partners, and the NPS will ensure that sufficient safety regulations and procedures are accounted for throughout the duration of the extension project. This includes buoys and other Aids-To-Navigation markers, ramp and marina traffic monitors, and routinely updated signage and news alerts in coordination with the Las Vegas Boat Harbor. If you experience or see an emergency and are in immediate danger when visiting Lake Mead NRA, dial 9-1-1 or the emergency Dispatch at 702-293-8932.
Visitors can contact Lake Mead NRA with project comments or questions in several ways. To connect virtually, the public can contact e-mail us and all media-related requests can be sent to e-mail us. Visitors may also submit questions in-person via comment cards located at the park's visitor center or postage mail to:
ATTN: Office of the Superintendent Lake Mead National Recreation Area 601 Nevada Way Boulder City, NV 89005 For project information and ongoing ramp status updates, visit this webpage for updates. Visitors should also follow the park's social media to receive construction updates and safety announcements to help keep their park visit safe and enjoyable.
DRAFT DIGITAL PROJECT ANNOUNCEMENT Release Date: MAY 7, 2025 Contact: e-mail us Lake Mead NRA Extending Popular Launch RampThe summer construction project supports future recreational access in the event of lowering lake levels.BOULDER CITY, Nev. – This summer, contractors for the National Park Service (NPS) will initiate phase one of a construction project to extend the Hemenway Harbor launch ramp at Lake Mead National Recreation Area. Work is scheduled to begin June 2 and last through Summer. The phased construction project supports the facilities, operations, and marina services necessary to maintain lake access and other water-based recreation opportunities as detailed in the park’s Sustainable Low Water Access Plan and Environmental Assessment (EA), approved in November 2023. Water level projections for the 2025 summer boating season are favorable for construction, allowing dive and contract teams to perform underwater and shoreline work safely and efficiently at the launch ramp. Summer and fall are generally the best times for this type of underwater construction work. The construction will reduce the number of Hemenway Harbor’s open launch lanes down to one and reduce the ramp’s open courtesy docks to one-half. A shoreline area adjacent to the launch ramp will also be closed to accommodate for construction staging needs. Visitors should prepare for longer wait times for vessel launching and retrieval, especially on weekends and holidays, and are encouraged to plan ahead before traveling to the park. Fueling services on the water at the Las Vegas Boat Harbor will be open during construction, but it is strongly recommended that boaters use land-based fueling options before arriving at the park to avoid marina congestion.Slip renters or boat owners with questions about impacts or changes to marina services should contact the Las Vegas Boat Harbor at [Boating Lake Mead URL landing page]. For project information and ongoing ramp status updates, visit nps.gov/lake. |
Last updated: May 7, 2025