NPS to shut down all boat ramps to Lake Mohave temporarily

Low water in Lake Mohave will force the National Park Service to temporarily close all six boat ramps along the Nevada-Arizona border later this month.

The agency announced Wednesday that the ramps at Willow Beach, Cottonwood Cove, Katherine Landing, Princess Cove, Arizona Telephone Cove and Nevada Telephone Cove will close Oct. 29 and open again when the water comes back up on Nov. 7.

The Bureau of Reclamation is gradually lowering the level of the reservoir behind Davis Dam by more than 10 feet to accommodate recovery efforts for the razorback sucker, a federally protected fish.

Lake Mohave's marinas, fuel stations, stores, motels, campsites and picnic areas will remain open. Boaters whose vessels are already in the water when the ramps close will still have access to the lake.

Raft, kayak and canoe trips at Black Canyon south of the Hoover Dam will also continue.

"Boaters on the lake in late October and early November should be aware of the changing lake and navigate as if it's their first time on the water because new sandbars and vegetation may appear," said Bill Dickinson, superintendent for Lake Mead National Recreation, which includes Lake Mohave. "It's best to follow the main channel buoy markers and reduce your speed, until you are comfortable with the new water depths."

The lowering of Lake Mohave will not impact the water level in Lake Mead.

Updated information on water levels at Mohave and other reservoirs on the lower Colorado River is available at www.usbr.gov/lc/riverops.html under "Current Conditions."

Contact reporter Henry Brean at hbrean@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0350.