Lake Mead Boat Ramps vs the Water Level
Published NPS minimum launch elevations, paired with the daily gauge reading - cushions recomputed every day.
Western Reservoir Conditions·Daily·No. 47··Latest reading
- Lake Mead is at 1,038.93 feet as of .
- 1 of 1 ramp sits above its published minimum launch elevation at today's level. Minimum elevations are from NPS Lake Mead - Launch Ramps.
Lake Mead ramps vs today's level
| Ramp | Min. launch elevation | Water above/below |
|---|---|---|
| Hemenway Harbor approximate ramp-end elevation; extended ~200 ft in 2025 and designed to extend to ~1,000 ft | ~1,020 ft | 18.9 ft above |
NPS publishes no minimum-launch elevation for Callville Bay, Echo Bay, Temple Bar, South Cove, so no cushion is shown for them here - check the NPS launch-ramps page for their current status.
Why ramps close as the lake drops
A launch ramp is only usable while its paved end sits in enough water. Every foot of decline moves the waterline down the ramp; below its minimum launch elevation, a ramp is out of the water and closed until it is extended or relocated. Open/closed status can also differ from the water math - a ramp above its minimum elevation may still be closed for construction, dredging, or silt. This page pairs the published NPS elevations with the daily gauge reading from the Lake Mead page; for live open/closed status, see NPS Lake Mead - Launch Ramps (NPS figures as of September 9, 2024).
Context: dead pool · shortage tiers · USBR projections.