Western Lakes Shrink From Drought, and Boat Businesses Struggle

BOULDER CITY, Nev.—At the lone remaining boat launch ramp right here on Lake Mead, the most important reservoir within the Western U.S., officers not too long ago put up a brand new signal: “Estimated Wait Time 4 Hours.”

Amid a drought that scientists say is now the worst within the area in additional than 1,000 years, Lake Mead is 28% full. The lake has misplaced 169 toes from its floor elevation of 1,214 in 2000. For each foot it goes down, about 20 toes of shoreline are uncovered, in line with officers with the National Park Service.