Lake Mead in March

[bacdoc]

This is my first post to this site and I am hoping for some advice on getting our boat in the water as soon as possible. We purchased a new 04 24V last month but simply can't wait for the lakes around here to thaw. Does anyone have any experience with Lake Mead temps around the last week of March. We are planning on staying in Henderson. Where is the best place to launch the boat from Henderson. Thanks

[akdoc]

bacdoc,

This is off subject, but I noticed you are a chiropractor. I am about ready to graduate from Logan. Good to see that you must be doing well. I'm sorry I can't tell you anything about lake Mead though. Welcome to the forum and congrats on the new 24V, sweet boat.

[TeamAllen]

Congratulations on your new boat! Did you see the post tilltled Lake Mead. I posted some web links and apicture from one of the websites. I've never been in March. The earliest we go is in June. I would think the water is a little cold for just trunking it. If you're coming from St. Gearge, I would think you would go to Overton Arm out of Mesquite.

Good Luck. Let us know how it goes.

[talltigeguy]

Overton would be a little closer, but is a little skimpy on hotel and services. For a 'northerner' lake Mead is warm all year round. I just got off the phone with the Tige dealer in Vegas and he says the water is 61 degrees today. The air temp is over 80 degrees. You've got lakes up North that will never even get that warm!

If you get warm air temp in the 80's or 90's then you will be fine.

Maybe I'll need to make a run down there to check it out personally!

[Flying Tiger]

BTW, FYI:
Lake Mead will be full July 11.
The expected snowpack will give Powell a good boost too.
Mead gained 12 feet in level in the past month.
http://137.77.133.1/uc/water/notice/snow.gif
Plenty of water expected from the rains and snowpack.

[talltigeguy]

Flying Tiger,

FULL? The lake is a long way from full capacity...

Do you mean the lake will reach its max for the year on July 11? I am still looking for a good link to Lake Mead water levels. The Bureau of Reclamation has a site that gives an hourly report, but that's a little much for me.

This is the first I've heard a 'full' prediction.

[talltigeguy]

I did find these numbers at the bureau of reclamation website and they only seem to predict a 14 feet higher lake elevation than last year at this time. That is still huge, but far from full.

You have to scroll down to the reservior you are interested in to see the numbers. Notice that Lake Powell in June is only going to be 13 feet higher than last year in June...Oddly enough, they predict almost no decrease over the summer, so by December, Lake Powell will be over 30 feet higher than the previous year.

[talltigeguy]

- Try this -

http://www.usbr.gov/lc/region/g4000/24mo.pdf

Hopefully that helps!

[DanB]

So if this lake goes up and down by dozens of feet each year, how do they construct boat ramps? They'd need to be a football field or two in length, wouldn't they? Any how do marinas fare?

I've always hated how some of those areas of the southwest suck dry many other areas up North, but on the other hand, I'd love to boat in some of those canyons! They are beautiful!!!

[raythompson]

Originally posted by DanB
So if this lake goes up and down by dozens of feet each year, how do they construct boat ramps? They'd need to be a football field or two in length, wouldn't they? Any how do marinas fare?
The same way they do on Norris Lake close to where I live. This lake can go up and down by 30 feet each year.

The ramps are long and you may have to back down a ramp that is 200+ feet long. The marinas are further out in the water and just float with people ramps that are on wheels to allow them to extend. The marinas are anchored to the shore with cables that are on winches and can be adjusted. Utility lines have spring loaded loops that allow for the necessary lenght adjustments.

I have seen cases where the marina could not adjust enough. In the case of water too high parts of the marina ramps go underwater and they have to disconnect the utilities. In the case of water extremely low the ramps just close and the marina may sit on the lake bed. It does not happen often, but they all take in stride.

[KenBeck]

I live in Las Vegas and board at lake mead year round. By the end of March you should be fine without a dry or wet suit. If you would like some advice on some nice places to board on the lake let me know!

[KenBeck]

Almost forgot where to launch. I always launch from Lake Mead Marina, There are several nice places sheltered from the wind to board at really close to there. From Henderson head to Boulder Dam, left on 166. It's 3-4 miles past the fee station

[bacdoc]

Appreciate all the advice. We picked up the boat a couple of days ago along with a ton of Tige t-shirts, hats, and other promo stuff they threw in. Right now the boat is getting fitted with some tower speakers before our trip south. I hope the weather cooperates, we may be driving out of Salt Lake in the snow. We just have to get the boat in the water to get rid of this persistent itch.

[Bog]

bacdoc,

sorry I got pulled away and didnt get a chance to thank you guys again. It was a pleasure helping you, let me know if I can ever assist you!! make sure you invite me for a wakesurf session:D

jim

[talltigeguy]

DanB,

You are on the money. The ramps are hundreds of feet long. EVERYTHING is bigger out west!:D

Here's a pic of Lake Powell:

[Flying Tiger]

Originally posted by talltigeguy
Flying Tiger,

FULL? The lake is a long way from full capacity...

Do you mean the lake will reach its max for the year on July 11? I am still looking for a good link to Lake Mead water levels. The Bureau of Reclamation has a site that gives an hourly report, but that's a little much for me.

This is the first I've heard a 'full' prediction.

The new projected water releases have been posted :

Check it out:

Parker Davis Hoover Glen Cyn
Dam Lake Dam Lake Dam Lake Dam
Average Havasu Average Mohave Average Mead Average
Release Elev. Release Elev. Release Elev. Release
Date (cfs) (ft) (cfs) (ft) (cfs) (ft) (cfs)
---- ----- ---- ----- ---- ----- ---- -----
Mar 21 9500 447.2 6000 643.7 9600 1147.2 13100
Mar 22 10000 446.9 7000 643.9 9600 1147.2 13100
Mar 23 10000 446.6 11000 11000
643.8 9600 1147.3 13100
Mar 24 10000 446.7 11000 643.7 9600 1147.4 13100
Mar 25 11500 446.7 11000 643.6 9600 1147.4 13100
Mar 26 11000 446.7 11000 643.4 8600 1147.5 13100
Mar 27 11000 446.7 11000 643.2 8100 1147.6 13100

Average 10400 9700 9200 13100

Mar 28 to
Apr 3 10900 446.3 12600 643.0 12400 1147.8 11100

Apr 4 to
Apr 10 11000 446.8 15700 642.8 16000 1147.6 8500

it got a bit compacted in the cut and paste,, but Mead is going to fill as the snopack melts.

[talltigeguy]

This may be a little easier to read: I did finally find these numbers from the bureau of reclamation:

http://www.usbr.gov/lc/region/g4000/24mo.pdf

It has the numbers for all of the lakes in the Colorado River drainage, so just scroll down until you hit Lake Mead / Hoover Dam.

My understanding of current water laws is that they will allow most of the water to stay in Lake Powell until it is equally full as Lake Mead.

Note that Lake Mead reaches its peak this month! I can't help but see these numbers as the most reliable out there.

[Original Wing Nut]

Hey bacdoc looks like you got the jump on me. I am headed to Mead on the 19th of April, how was it when you were there. I picked up my boat the week before Christmas and have had the itch real bad. I snowmobile and have been enjoying a great snow year, but look forward to it melting now and getting on the lake. PS how did you swing the t-shirt deal the guys at Taylors just gave me a bill of sale and title. You must be a nicer guy than I. Not really they are great guys and I would buy from them again.

[rmarion]

Try this link guys............

http://www.usbr.gov/lc/region/g4000/hourly/mead-elv.html

[bacdoc]

Original Wing Nut,

We had a great time at Mead over Easter weekend. We had to travel through a snow storm to get there. We actually stayed in Henderson and launched from that area, the temp was about 70 and water temp about 60. We got in the water even though it was a little frigid but I grew up in Alaska so I think that helped. The water was low of course and we had to use an alternate ramp to launch but it was fine. The second day we were there the water was pretty rough and it was a good test for the boat, everything people have said about the 24V being awesome in rough water is absolutely true.
We are heading back down on the 15th for another try. This time on the Overton side. We just cant get enough of this stuff.
Youre right about Taylors, excellent people to buy from, they have been terrific about every aspect of our purchase and even let us bring the boat back to store because the temps got cold here in Salt Lake after we returned. Call them and tell them they owe you a shirt.

[talltigeguy]

Rmarion,

Thanks for the link! That gives a nice historical perspective. Note that the lake last summer was the lowest its been since 1965!

Bacdoc,

Lake Mead has to be one of the roughest inland lakes in the west. I've found that its always smooth in the summer for a few hours in the morning.

You know when you get that inversion in Northern Utah...that means that it is sunny, 65 degrees and nothing but butter down here. Winter wakeboarding can be very satisfying:cool: