Lake Mead National Recreation Area Launch Ramp Advisory

Lake Mead NRA News Release

July 9, 2003
For Immediate Release
Roxanne Dey, (702) 293-8947
roxanne_dey@nps.gov

Important Safety Information for Boaters: Launch Ramp Update

The deep water launch lanes at Hemenway Harbor are no longer usable due to lowering lake levels. Boats up to 18-20 feet and personal watercraft can still launch at Hemenway Harbor. Overton Beach and Las Vegas Bay can also accommodate personal watercraft and smaller boats up to about 20 feet.

The Boulder Launch Ramp (next to Lake Mead Marina), Echo Bay, and Callville Bay, have deep water launch lanes available.

Lake Mead

Boulder Launch Ramp (next to Lake Mead Marina)
A launch ramp with four to five lanes (including 2 deep water lanes) is available

Overton Beach
Four launch lanes on the south side of the ramp are available for smaller boats up to 20 feet

Callville Bay
One lane is open on the north side and five are open on the south side. There is a lengthy walk from the parking areas to the launch ramp. Please note there is on-going construction at the Callville launch ramp. At least 1/3 of the lanes will be open at all times and no work will be done on weekends or holidays.

Echo Bay
Four launch lanes on the south and one on the north are open for all size boats. The parking areas are marked. Please do not park on the launch ramp. There is a long steep walk from the parking areas to the launch ramp.

Hemenway Harbor
Four lanes are open for shallow launching. Currently, there are no launch lanes available for deep water launching. The Hemenway Point fishing pier has been relocated into Horsepower Cove south of the Las Vegas Boat Harbor Marina.

Las Vegas Bay
Two to three launch lanes are open for small boats only (up to 20 feet).

Temple Bar and South Cove
The launch ramps are currently under reconstruction. At least 1/3 of the lanes will be open at all times and no work will be done on weekends or holidays. There is typically no waiting line for launching. The concessioner at Temple Bar offers shuttle service for boaters from the ramp to the parking areas.

Government Wash and Pearce Ferry launch ramps are closed.

Lake Mohave
Lake Mohave launch ramps are open and available for use. Lake Mohave has not been affected by the lower than normal levels on Lake Mead.

Background Information on the Launch Ramp Improvement Project at Lake Mead
A large-scale capital improvement project using park entrance fees began this month at Lake Mead National Recreation Area. We are taking advantage of the opportunity that lowering water levels at Lake Mead have provided for the launch ramp reconstruction project, said Superintendent William K. Dickinson. The sections of the launch ramps now exposed were under water for almost 40 years. This caused crumbling and deterioration of the asphalt. Replacement of these launch ramps will significantly improve conditions for boaters using these Lake Mead facilities, added Dickinson. The work at the ramps will include removal of the existing asphalt surface and replacement with a 6-inch v-groove concrete surface. The work is expected to cost about $6.5 million. Almost half of this funding comes from park entrance fees, with the balance coming from the Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act, the Nevada Division of Wildlife, and a grant from the Arizona Boater Access Program administered by Arizona Game and Fish Department. The National Park Service will be performing this reconstruction work over the next six months. Superintendent Dickinson stressed, I want to assure visitors to Lake Mead that launch ramps will remain open during construction, with at least one-third of the lanes available for launching at all times. Additionally, no construction work will be done on weekends or holidays.

Lake Mead National Recreation Area is a unit of the National Park Service.

-NPS-

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