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HOW DEEP IS LAKE MEAD?

Written by Janet F. Murray
Updated: September 8, 2022
CrackerClips Stock Media/Shutterstock.com
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 1. Animals Home
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 3. Lakes
 4. How Deep is Lake Mead?

A-Z Animals was founded on three guiding principles: accurate content you can
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than 30,000 species are threatened with extinction, and thousands would already
be lost without tireless conservation efforts. Knowing that the first step
toward conservation is spreading knowledge of the incredible animals species
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More Great Content:
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Lake Mead sports a surface area of 247 square miles, and its magnificent
shoreline measures 759 miles. This lake extends more than 110 miles upstream
from Hoover Dam to the head of the Grand Canyon. It supports diverse
recreational activities like fishing, boating, camping, and swimming, but how
deep is Lake Mead?


WHAT IS THE DEPTH AND MAXIMUM CAPACITY OF LAKE MEAD?

Lake Mead has a maximum depth of more than 532 feet and a maximum capacity of
28,945,000 acre-feet.

Matej Hudovernik/Shutterstock.com

Lake Mead has a maximum depth of more than 532 feet. This massive reservoir is
the largest in the U.S., having a capacity of 28,945,000 acre-feet. The
reservoir was part of the original construction of the Hoover Dam on the
Colorado River between Nevada and Arizona. So, when dam construction was over in
1936, Lake Mead began to fill soon after.



Since its creation, Lake Mead has been an important water source for the
Southwest. The reservoir stores water released from Hoover Dam and distributes
it to municipal and agricultural users in Arizona, California, and Nevada. In
addition, Lake Mead helps regulate the flow of the Colorado River and supports
several endangered species.


WHICH RIVERS AND TRIBUTARIES FEED LAKE MEAD?

The Colorado River feeds Lake Mead together with three smaller tributaries: the
Virgin River, the Muddy River, and the Paria River. And the Colorado River is
one of North America’s longest rivers, starting its 1,450-mile journey in the
Rocky Mountains and ending in the Gulf of California. Moreover, the Virgin River
is the longest of Lake Mead’s tributaries, running 225 miles from Utah to
Nevada. Besides, the Muddy and Paria rivers are about 100 miles long.


FOR WHAT IS LAKE MEAD’S WATER USED?

Lake Mead’s water is a vital resource for the Southwest. About 75% of the water
goes to irrigation for agriculture, supplying around 60% of the food for the
nation. Nearly 40% of Arizona‘s water supply comes from Lake Mead. The water
also helps to power several hydroelectric dams that produce a portion of the
Southwest’s electricity.




IS LAKE MEAD IN DANGER OF DRYING UP?

Authorities are concerned as Lake Mead was at 40% capacity in 2017 with no
improvements since.

Norm Lane/Shutterstock.com



Lake Mead’s water levels have been fluctuating quite a bit lately. The lake hit
its lowest point in 2007 and has been on the rise since then, but it is still
well below its capacity. In fact, as of the fall months of 2017, the lake was at
about 40% capacity with about ten million-acre feet of held water.

Lake Mead and the second largest U.S. reservoir, Lake Powell, compete for
capacity bragging rights. However, as of 2013, Lake Powell is actually in the
lead. Lake Mead reached its peak capacity in 1983 but has declined since then.

The main driver behind this decline is the decreasing snowpack in the mountains
that feed the two lakes. The Colorado River basin has been experiencing a
drought for 16 years now, and it does not seem that it will let up anytime soon.




WHAT PROBLEMS ARE CAUSED BY LAKE MEAD’S DECREASING WATER LEVELS?

Lake Mead is in big trouble. The reservoir’s water level has dropped so much
that it is now half empty. Scientists predict that it will probably never fill
up to capacity again. This situation is a significant problem for the more than
22 million people who rely on the reservoir for their water supply. The water
levels are also affecting the Southwest’s environment, which is closely tied to
the fate of the Colorado River.

There are many reasons for Lake Mead’s decreasing water levels. The main one is
climate change, which causes less rain and snowfall in the area. The other
factors include the ever-growing population of the Southwest and the subsequent
increasing demand for more water.



But, there are some things authorities can do to solve this problem. One is to
reduce the amount of water that they use. Another is to find new ways to store
and use water. So, there is now an initiative known as the Fill Lake Mead First
Proposal, which aims to improve water situations for Lake Mead. However, if
things do not start to improve soon, there could be some major issues in the
coming years.


WHY IS LAKE MEAD SO POPULAR?

The water supply to Lake Mead via its river sources has been drying up for
years.

Public Domain



Lake Mead is among the most popular tourist destinations in the U.S. The vast
body of water is a popular spot for boating and water sports, kayaking,
canoeing, swimming, sunbathing, and some of the nation’s best sport fishing.

This lake is also a great place to relax and take in the area’s natural beauty.
Situated near Las Vegas, Lake Mead is a convenient destination for visitors to
the city. It is also close to other popular tourist destinations, such as the
Grand Canyon and Zion National Park, making it a sought-after vacation
destination.


WHAT’S SO SPECIAL ABOUT THE LAKE MEAD ECO-SYSTEM?

Lake Mead National Recreation Area is the home of assorted plants and animals
that grow nowhere else in the world. This indigenous characteristic is due to
the area’s location at the junction of three of the nation’s four desert
ecosystems: Mojave, Great Basin, and Sonoran deserts. This spot also means that
the area is home to many plants and animals uniquely adapted to the desert
climate.



Some of the most notable plant and animal species near Lake Mead include the
Joshua tree, bighorn sheep, burros, and hummingbirds. The Joshua tree is a
unique spectacle in the Mojave Desert, where it is also an indigenous plant.
Additionally, bighorn sheep only inhabit the Rocky Mountains and western states.
Burros were introduced to the area in the 1930s and have since become a staple
of the local wildlife. Finally, hummingbirds are common throughout the Southwest
but particularly abundant near Lake Mead.

The diverse assortment of plant and animal life near Lake Mead is one of its
biggest attractions. Visitors can see everything from cacti and scorpions to
trout and bald eagles. There is something for everyone to enjoy in this unique
corner of the world.



Unlike many lakes and other large bodies of water, Lake Mead is not a natural
lake. Lake Mead was created at the same time as the Hoover Dam. Initially, the
lake was established so that it could provide a source of water for the region.
Lake Mead was formed when the water flow from the Colorado River was slowed
down.


EXPLORE MORE ABOUT LAKE MEAD BELOW

 * https://a-z-animals.com/blog/shocking-images-from-space-show-how-much-lake-mead-is-vanishing/
 * https://a-z-animals.com/blog/lake-mead-is-so-low-its-revealed-an-1865-ghost-town-2/
 * https://a-z-animals.com/blog/how-were-the-great-lakes-formed-and-how-long-ago/




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About the Author

JANET F. MURRAY


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I'm a freelance writer with more than eight years of content creation
experience. My content writing covers diverse genres, and I have a business
degree. I am also the proud author of my memoir, My Sub-Lyme Life. This work
details the effects of living with undiagnosed infections like rickettsia (like
Lyme). By sharing this story, I wish to give others hope and courage in
overcoming their life challenges. In my downtime, I value spending time with
friends and family.



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