Hoover Dam and Lake Mead June 2022

The turquoise waters of Lake Mead’s Boulder Basin spread out below the Lakeview Overlook near Hoover Dam on June 28, 2022. The worst megadrought in 1,200 years, combined with overuse of water, have shrunk Lake Mead to record low levels. The receding shoreline has forced relocation of the marina seen in the distance by more than a half mile since the lake was last nearly full. © Tom Yulsman. Usage rights are granted for editorial and nonprofit purposes only. No commercial or re-sale rights are granted without permission of the photographer. Full use and licensing information can be found at: https://waterdesk.org/multimedia/license

The turquoise waters of Lake Mead, with its “bathtub ring” of mineral deposits left behind as the reservoir has shriveled, stretch to the north in this panoramic image captured from the top Hoover Dam on June 29, 2022. The towers on the left and right are two of four that take in water to drive the dam’s hydropower turbines. © Tom Yulsman. Usage rights are granted for editorial and nonprofit purposes only. No commercial or re-sale rights are granted without permission of the photographer. Full use and licensing information can be found at: https://waterdesk.org/multimedia/license

The turquoise waters of Lake Mead’s Boulder Basin spread out below the Lakeview Overlook near Hoover Dam on June 28, 2022. The worst megadrought in 1,200 years, combined with overuse of water, have shrunk Lake Mead to record low levels. The receding shoreline has forced relocation of the marina seen in the distance by more than a half mile since the lake was last nearly full. © Tom Yulsman. Usage rights are granted for editorial and nonprofit purposes only. No commercial or re-sale rights are granted without permission of the photographer. Full use and licensing information can be found at: https://waterdesk.org/multimedia/license

A giant spillway at Hoover Dam is gathering gravel and other debris instead of water, as seen on June 28, 2022. The dam has two of these concrete-lined open channels, each measuring about 650 feet long, 150 feet wide, and 170 feet deep. They are designed to help funnel overflowing water from Lake Mead around Hoover Dam and out into the Colorado River downstream. The spillways haven’t seen any overflow from the lake since the summer of 1983. © Tom Yulsman. Usage rights are granted for editorial and nonprofit purposes only. No commercial or re-sale rights are granted without permission of the photographer. Full use and licensing information can be found at: https://waterdesk.org/multimedia/license

The late-afternoon sun glimmers on the surface of Lake Mead by Hoover Dam, as seen in this panoramic image taken on June 28, 2022. The reservoir — largest in the United States — stretches off to the right, hemmed in by cliffs lined by a “bathtub ring” of mineral deposits left behind as the lake has dropped to record low levels. © Tom Yulsman. Usage rights are granted for editorial and nonprofit purposes only. No commercial or re-sale rights are granted without permission of the photographer. Full use and licensing information can be found at: https://waterdesk.org/multimedia/license

The late-afternoon sun glimmers on the surface of Lake Mead by Hoover Dam, as seen in this panoramic image taken on June 28, 2022. The reservoir — largest in the United States — stretches off to the right, hemmed in by cliffs lined by a “bathtub ring” of mineral deposits left behind as the lake has dropped to record low levels. © Tom Yulsman. Usage rights are granted for editorial and nonprofit purposes only. No commercial or re-sale rights are granted without permission of the photographer. Full use and licensing information can be found at: https://waterdesk.org/multimedia/license

The shore of Lake Mead is hundreds of yards in the distance from this sign spelling out beach regulations at Lake Mead National Recreation Area. Not long ago, the lake — the largest reservoir in the United States — covered this spot. But it has shrunk to record lows thanks to the worst megadrought in the region in at least 1,200 years, combined with overuse of water. © Tom Yulsman. Usage rights are granted for editorial and nonprofit purposes only. No commercial or re-sale rights are granted without permission of the photographer. Full use and licensing information can be found at: https://waterdesk.org/multimedia/license

A person strolls along a boulder-strewn path bulldozed through the newly-uncovered former bed of Lake Mead on June 28, 2022. The shore of the lake, seen in the distance, has receded by more than a half mile at this spot. When this photo was taken, the daytime temperature had recently peaked at 108 degrees, coming within a degree of tying the record high for the date, and winds were gusting at about 20 miles per hour. © Tom Yulsman. Usage rights are granted for editorial and nonprofit purposes only. No commercial or re-sale rights are granted without permission of the photographer. Full use and licensing information can be found at: https://waterdesk.org/multimedia/license

A barrel, probably once used as a flotation device, lies stranded on the uninviting shore of Swim Beach at Lake Mead on June 28, 2022. As the reservoir — largest in the United States — has dropped to record low levels, the shoreline has receded by more than a half mile at this spot. A person standing by the water provides a sense of scale. Shortly before this photo was taken on June 28, 2022, temperatures had soared to 108 degrees in nearby Boulder City, NV — just a degree shy of tying the record high for the day — and winds were gusting at nearly 20 mph. © Tom Yulsman. Usage rights are granted for editorial and nonprofit purposes only. No commercial or re-sale rights are granted without permission of the photographer. Full use and licensing information can be found at: https://waterdesk.org/multimedia/license

The late-afternoon sun glimmers on the surface of Lake Mead by Hoover Dam, as seen on June 28, 2022. Across the lake toward the right edge of the photo is one of two concrete lined spillways designed to funnel water around the dam when the reservoir reaches the maximum allowable height. This last occurred in July of 1983, when the lake reached its highest level on record. © Tom Yulsman. Usage rights are granted for editorial and nonprofit purposes only. No commercial or re-sale rights are granted without permission of the photographer. Full use and licensing information can be found at: https://waterdesk.org/multimedia/license

Homes in Boulder City, NV look out on the Boulder Basin of Lake Mead, the largest reservoir in the United States. When this photo was taken on June 28, 2022, the reservoir stood at a record low level — and was dropping fast. © Tom Yulsman. Usage rights are granted for editorial and nonprofit purposes only. No commercial or re-sale rights are granted without permission of the photographer. Full use and licensing information can be found at: https://waterdesk.org/multimedia/license

Homes in Boulder City, NV look out on the Boulder Basin of Lake Mead, the largest reservoir in the United States. When this photo was taken on June 28, 2022, the reservoir stood at a record low level — and was dropping fast. © Tom Yulsman. Usage rights are granted for editorial and nonprofit purposes only. No commercial or re-sale rights are granted without permission of the photographer. Full use and licensing information can be found at: https://waterdesk.org/multimedia/license

A thundercloud blossoms above the mountains lining Lake Mead’s Boulder Basin, as seen from Swim Beach in Lake Mead National Recreation Area on June 28, 2022. The white “bathtub ring” of mineral deposits on the cliffs and the island poking up from the lake has been left behind as the reservoir has shriveled to record low levels. Meanwhile, at this spot, the lake shore has retreated by more than half a mile. © Tom Yulsman. Usage rights are granted for editorial and nonprofit purposes only. No commercial or re-sale rights are granted without permission of the photographer. Full use and licensing information can be found at: https://waterdesk.org/multimedia/license

A pickup truck is dwarfed by Lake Mead’s white “bathtub ring” on June 28, 2022. These mineral deposits have been left behind on the cliffs as the reservoir has shriveled to record low levels. © Tom Yulsman. Usage rights are granted for editorial and nonprofit purposes only. No commercial or re-sale rights are granted without permission of the photographer. Full use and licensing information can be found at: https://waterdesk.org/multimedia/license

People and vehicles are dwarfed by Lake Mead’s white “bathtub ring” on June 28, 2022. These mineral deposits have been left behind on the cliffs as the reservoir has shriveled to record low levels. © Tom Yulsman. Usage rights are granted for editorial and nonprofit purposes only. No commercial or re-sale rights are granted without permission of the photographer. Full use and licensing information can be found at: https://waterdesk.org/multimedia/license

A barrel, probably once used as a flotation device, lies stranded on the uninviting shore of Swim Beach at Lake Mead. As the reservoir — largest in the United States — has dropped to record low levels, the shoreline has receded by more than a half mile at this spot. Shortly before this photo was taken on June 28, 2022, temperatures had soared to 108 degrees in nearby Boulder City, NV. — just a degree shy of tying the record high — and winds were gusting at nearly 20 mph. © Tom Yulsman. Usage rights are granted for editorial and nonprofit purposes only. No commercial or re-sale rights are granted without permission of the photographer. Full use and licensing information can be found at: https://waterdesk.org/multimedia/license

An intake facility that draws water from Lake Mead is seen here on June 28, 2022. The water serves the city of Henderson, NV near Las Vegas. The light-colored “bathtub ring” of mineral deposits has been left behind on the cliffs as the reservoir — largest in the United States — has shrunk to record low levels. © Tom Yulsman. Usage rights are granted for editorial and nonprofit purposes only. No commercial or re-sale rights are granted without permission of the photographer. Full use and licensing information can be found at: https://waterdesk.org/multimedia/license

An intake facility that draws water from Lake Mead is seen here on June 28, 2022. The water serves the city of Henderson, NV near Las Vegas. The light-colored “bathtub ring” of mineral deposits has been left behind on the cliffs as the reservoir — largest in the United States — has shrunk to record low levels. © Tom Yulsman. Usage rights are granted for editorial and nonprofit purposes only. No commercial or re-sale rights are granted without permission of the photographer. Full use and licensing information can be found at: https://waterdesk.org/multimedia/license

Hoover Dam as seen on June 29, 2022. The dam impounds the waters of the Colorado River to create Lake Mead, the largest U.S. reservoir, seen here upstream of the dam. The white “bathtub ring” of mineral deposits on the cliffs has been left behind as the reservoir has shriveled to record low levels. © Tom Yulsman. Usage rights are granted for editorial and nonprofit purposes only. No commercial or re-sale rights are granted without permission of the photographer. Full use and licensing information can be found at: https://waterdesk.org/multimedia/license

Hoover Dam as seen on June 29, 2022. The dam impounds the waters of the Colorado River to create Lake Mead, the largest U.S. reservoir, seen here upstream of the dam. The white “bathtub ring” of mineral deposits on the cliffs has been left behind as the reservoir has shriveled to record low levels. © Tom Yulsman. Usage rights are granted for editorial and nonprofit purposes only. No commercial or re-sale rights are granted without permission of the photographer. Full use and licensing information can be found at: https://waterdesk.org/multimedia/license

Hoover Dam as seen on June 29, 2022. The dam impounds the waters of the Colorado River to create Lake Mead, the largest U.S. reservoir, seen here upstream of the dam. The white “bathtub ring” of mineral deposits on the cliffs has been left behind as the reservoir has shriveled to record low levels. © Tom Yulsman. Usage rights are granted for editorial and nonprofit purposes only. No commercial or re-sale rights are granted without permission of the photographer. Full use and licensing information can be found at: https://waterdesk.org/multimedia/license

Hoover Dam as seen on June 29, 2022. The dam impounds the waters of the Colorado River to create Lake Mead, the largest U.S. reservoir, seen here upstream of the dam. The white “bathtub ring” of mineral deposits on the cliffs has been left behind as the reservoir has shriveled to record low levels. © Tom Yulsman. Usage rights are granted for editorial and nonprofit purposes only. No commercial or re-sale rights are granted without permission of the photographer. Full use and licensing information can be found at: https://waterdesk.org/multimedia/license

Hoover Dam as seen on June 29, 2022. The dam impounds the waters of the Colorado River to create Lake Mead, the largest U.S. reservoir, seen here upstream of the dam. The white “bathtub ring” of mineral deposits on the cliffs has been left behind as the reservoir has shriveled to record low levels. © Tom Yulsman. Usage rights are granted for editorial and nonprofit purposes only. No commercial or re-sale rights are granted without permission of the photographer. Full use and licensing information can be found at: https://waterdesk.org/multimedia/license

A car crosses Hoover Dam on June 29, 2022. The dam impounds the waters of the Colorado River to create Lake Mead, the largest U.S. reservoir. As of the summer of 2022, the lake level had dropped by about 170 feet from its high point, leaving behind a light-colored “bathtub ring” of mineral deposits. © Tom Yulsman. Usage rights are granted for editorial and nonprofit purposes only. No commercial or re-sale rights are granted without permission of the photographer. Full use and licensing information can be found at: https://waterdesk.org/multimedia/license

The offices of the Lower Colorado Regional Office of the Bureau of Reclamation in Boulder City, NV, as photographed on June 29, 2022. © Tom Yulsman. Usage rights are granted for editorial and nonprofit purposes only. No commercial or re-sale rights are granted without permission of the photographer. Full use and licensing information can be found at: https://waterdesk.org/multimedia/license