Lake Mead
- Lake name:
- Lake Mead
- Location:
- Arizona; California; Nevada
- HydroLAKE ID:
- 809
- GRanD ID:
- 610
- Latitude:
- 36.018191
- Longitude:
- -114.735006
- Surface area (km2):
- 581
- Basin type:
- reservoir
- Dam completion date:
- 1935
- Primary emergent vegetation:
- Scirpus maritimus
- Primary vegetation for nesting:
- Scirpus maritimus
- Management agency:
- Bureau of Reclamation
- Lake use:
- water supply irrigation hydroelectricity
- Region associations:
- Lower Basin of the Columbia River
- Comments:
- Lake Mead is the United States' first and largest National Recreation Area and is split between Nevada and Arizona. It captures water flow and snow melt from the Rocky Mountains. However, recent droughts has severely reduced water flow and water levels have dropped dramatically in the reservoir. The reservoir supplies water to 90% of southern Nevada residents. Water levels have been declining for the last 22 years. California, Arizona, and Nevada water authorities signed an MOU in 2019 to address low water supply issues of Lake Mead and invest in projects to conserve water into the near future. This entry consolidates Lake Mead entries for NV, CA, and AZ for index purposes only. See individual entries for details.
Summary of Surveys (1)
Survey Citation:
Barnes, J. (2006). Inventory and Monitoring of Aquatic Bird Species on Lakes Mead and Mohave 2004-2006. 1-36.
-
Type
boat; air -
Time period
21 April 2005 -
Source
Report -
Both Western and Clarks?
Y
| Count Type | Range | Max | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max Adults | >1000 | 2330 | 2005 |
| Most Recent Adults | >1000 | 2330 | 2005 |
| Max Nests | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Most Recent Nests | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Max Chicks | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Most Recent Chicks | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Comments:
EXCLUDED FROM SUMMARY TABLE, outside breeding season. Sandy Cove was surveyed on 21 April 2005 so uncertain if this it too far outside of breeding season. Report does not mention evidence of breeding grebes. Count numbers are significant Western so unsure if this large number stage on this lake and move on or if there is breeding. The other Lake Mead survey areas are also outside the breeding season: Devil's Cove detected one Western grebe in 21 December 2004.
Sources of Information
- Messager, M.L., Lehner, B., Grill, G., Nedeva, I., Schmitt, O. (2016): Estimating the volume and age of water stored in global lakes using a geo-statistical approach. Nature Communications: 13603. doi: 10.1038/ncomms13603. Data is available at www.hydrosheds.org.; Lehner, B., C. Reidy Liermann, C. Revenga, C. Vorosmarty, B. Fekete, P. Crouzet, P. Doll, M. Endejan, K. Frenken, J. Magome, C. Nilsson, J.C. Robertson, R. Rodel, N. Sindorf, and D. Wisser. 2011. Global Reservoir and Dam Database, Version 1 (GRanDv1): Dams, Revision 01. Palisades, New York: NASA Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center (SEDAC).
- Lehner, B., C. Reidy Liermann, C. Revenga, C. Vorosmarty, B. Fekete, P. Crouzet, P. Doll, M. Endejan, K. Frenken, J. Magome, C. Nilsson, J.C. Robertson, R. Rodel, N. Sindorf, and D. Wisser. 2011. Global Reservoir and Dam Database, Version 1 (GRanDv1): Dams, Revision 01. Palisades, New York: NASA Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center (SEDAC).
- Lake Mead Megadrought Article
- Lake Mead National Recreation Area
- Colorado River Management and Lake Mead Water Data
- Lake Mead National Recreation Area Updates
- Lake Mead Water Shortages
- Lake Mead Water Levels
- Lower Colorado River 500+ Plan
- Lake Mead Water Status
- Geographic Names Information System (GNIS)