Illegal Roads Threaten Lake Mead’s Shoreline

As water levels in Lake Mead and other western reservoirs reach perilous lows, people desperate to access the lake’s shores are creating a growing network of illegal roads that threaten the environment in Lake Mead National Recreation Area. “The park service has documented 824 miles of illegal roads, although the agency estimates two to three times that many exist.”

As Amy Alonzo explains in an article for the Nevada Independent, “When water levels were higher, an official road reached the lakeshore roughly every 10 miles, providing approximately 60 access points for visitors.” Now, only 10 approved roads exist, with half of them concentrated at one beach, making access to most of the lake’s shores “virtually nonexistent.”

Now, “Visitors have thus taken it upon themselves to create new roadways, including driving between official roads in attempts to reach isolated points along the water.” Park officials say vehicles on these roads destroy environmental and cultural resources and often require assistance after getting stuck — with few ways to describe to rescuers where they are.

The National Park Service (NPS) is requesting $8.67 million in federal funding to address the illegal roads by creating specific management plans, defining where backcountry camping is allowed, and boosting enforcement. “Park officials are also considering implementing a permitting system for camping — either free or paid — and putting location boundaries on backcountry use.”