Lake Mead

May 17, 2023

Most people visiting Las Vegas would be surprised to know that the water they drink and use comes from Lake Mead. Lake Mead sits approximately 20 miles away from the downtown Las Vegas area and has been a recreational spot for tourists and residents for decades. As America’s largest man-made reservoir, Lake Mead has played an integral part in the development and history of the Las Vegas region. We have broken down a couple quick facts you may not have known:

• Lake Mead spans more than 550 miles of shoreline which is twice the size of Rhode Island.
• Its depth is quite immense and impressive as well, as it stores enough water to cover Pennsylvania in a foot of water.
• While Lake Mead and Lake Mohave are located entirely within the boundaries of the National Recreation Area, they only account for 13 percent of the park’s total acreage.
• Taming the mighty Colorado River was one of the reasons President Theodore Roosevelt created the Bureau of Reclamation in 1902. Three decades later, this vision was realized when the final Hoover Dam diversion tunnels were closed in 1936.
• Today, Lake Mead which is part of the Hoover Dam endeavor provides a huge source of water for irrigation and industrial uses, along with its primary function of flood control for the Las Vegas region.
• The lake is named after D. Elwood Mead, the Commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation, which is the agency responsible for building the Hoover Dam.

As the drought continues to affect the Western United States, Lake Mead, an integral part of the Las Vegas valley region, has been one of the hardest hit from this latest drought. Do your part to help conserve today; regular plumbing inspections can help and in turn, save one of Las Vegas’ most treasured landmarks. Please contact a Yes! Plumbing professional today at 844-216-9300 or visit https://www.theyesmancan.com.