Used to be a lake back there, but they gave up extending the boat ramp when the lake went away. Las Vegas Bay, Lake Mead, February 2015, by John Fleck

With Lake Mead projected to drop 15 feet between now and mid summer, to historic lows, the National Park Service is planning to spend another $5 million extending boat ramps, Steven Slivka at the Boulder City Review reported today:

Vanover said drought conditions are expected to continue, and the Park Service is ready to deal with the repercussions.

She added that the Park Service is expecting to spend about $5 million this summer to extend launch ramps. All but one ramp had to be extended last year, she said, and the Park Service was forced to install temporary pipe matting and concrete planks because the lake was losing so much water.

While Lake Mead’s primary purpose is water supply, the Review quotes the Park Service reporting that there were 6.9 million visitors last year to Lake Mead National Recreation area (which includes both Mead and Lake Mohave). That’s more than the Grand Canyon.