There’s a popular saying: “A picture is worth 1,000 words.”
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View of Lake Mead from the abandoned Echo Bay Resort February 2021 |
Like many residents of Las Vegas, my initial reaction to the declining water levels at Lake Mead has shifted from a casual “Wow” to a serious “Holy cow, we might have to relocate.”
I’ve gone through numerous articles discussing the challenges faced by the Colorado River, Lake Mead, and Lake Powell. However, reviewing photographs of Lake Mead from past years compared to its current state conveys a message far louder than anything written.
Here are some before-and-after images of Lake Mead and Hoover Dam from the 1980s, when water cascaded over the dam’s spillways like waterfalls, contrasted with images taken in February 2021.
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| Intake Towers, 1983 |
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| Intake Towers, February 2021 |
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| Hoover Dam Spillway (Nevada side), 1983 |
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| Hoover Dam Spillway (Arizona side), February 2021 |
Echo Bay was once a vibrant area featuring a hotel, restaurant, and marina. Although the resort closed in 2011, the marina remained in operation at that time.
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| View of Echo Bay from the marina’s dock, November 2011 |
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| Echo Bay, February 2021 |
The resort closed in 2010 due to the Great Recession and has never reopened.
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| Abandoned Echo Bay Hotel, November 2011 |
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| Echo Bay Hotel, February 2021 |
These images truly speak for themselves.
Everyone in this region should be concerned. If you aren’t worried, it’s a sign you haven’t been paying attention.
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All photos by Terrisa Meeks
