February 22, 2015
After a couple days exploring Mojave National Preserve we headed east towards home but decided to break up the drive by stopping for the night at Callville Campground, sort of along Lake Mead.
The drive took us through more Joshua Tree forests.
The lake is shrinking, a lot. The Lake Mead National Recreation Area infrastructure was designed to operate optimally at lake levels between 1,180 feet (359.6 m) and 1,220 feet (371.8 m), levels typically seen in the past 30 years. As of Wednesday, March 16, 2016 the water level was 146.4 feet (44.6 m) below full pool of 1,229.00 (374.5 m). The National Park Service and concessionaires have spent millions of dollars extending launch ramps and moving marinas to chase the declining water. Some facilities have been forced to close.
These big yet shrinking reservoirs just don’t make sense. Trying to hold mass amounts of water with a huge surface area that evaporates off what little gets there now anyway.
Only a few people in the one open campground loop, dry camp for $20/night, half price with Senior Pass. The site was level though not very large with picnic table and fire ring. Bathrooms with running water, stand pipes occasionally, dump station. Our nearest neighbor three sites over only ran the generator for a couple hours. Ugh. Good time to go for a walk.
The sun was low causing the surrounding hills to glow and providing a soft backdrop to the out of place looking and invasive palm trees?
We walked down the closed road towards another campground loop and a tiny view of Lake Mead in the distance. I’ll bet when the lake was full this place was hopping.
Can you see that old water line? Wonder how low the lake has to be to see what’s left of the original 1864 settlement of Callville, submerged after the completion of Hoover Dam in 1936.
We picked out a couple favorite camp sites that one time overlooked the lake. I wondered at the absurdity of camping here in the desert with your ski boat beached nearby. Now, the place has a rather dead feel and not because of the sparse vegetation.
Walking back I saw Vultures roosting in one particular palm. Might not want to camp under this tree.
Watched the full moon rise and went to bed early in preparation for the long drive home the next day.
It’s a shame about lake mead, slowly shrinking.
I agree the lake is a shame, shouldn’t be there at all.
Yes it is such a shame — in the long run, you can’t fool Mother Nature. We don’t seem to learn that lesson easily though.
Beautiful drive by shots and the campground doesn’t sound too bad. We do have a generator in the camper van, but hate to use it. Was good in Alaska though. I am too spoiled I know.
Reservoirs in the Southwest just don’t make sense. There are times when I’d like to have a generator. I think Bill has one if we really needed. But it’s use would be limited.
Your photos give the area a magical feel – love the golden knoll especially. I haven’t seen the lake in decades and probably wouldn’t recognize the shoreline these days. Wide, flat expanses of water in a hot environment, surrounded by dark hills……don’t know why evaporation would be an issue???? Oh humans.
Thanks Jodee. If it shrinks much more it will be back to the Colorado River.
Totally agree that these reservoirs make no sense any more. But then neither does trying to turn the desert into the Midwest so people can live and play wherever they want. But then you know me, I’m a life long radical who has always wanted to set the rivers free. Love your full moon picture and the pictures of the landscape with the lake in the distance. Safe travels!
Thanks Sherry. A kindred spirit, I’m with you, let’s set these rivers free Ed (Abbey).
I’m afraid we do not have time to grieve the destruction, and that may be the reason we may not be able to alter our downward slide. When and if humans get another chance at this wonderful thing called “life”, I hope our short term memories will be long enough to learn a lesson, and also hold onto that lesson longer than one short generation.
Berta
It is sad that as a species we don’t seem very good at learning from our mistakes.
I guess all the dams were built during the “put mother nature to work phase” They don’t seem to make much sense any longer. I’m told by my coworkers in power trading that electric power from generators doesn’t command a very high price in the electricity market for various reasons.
Our decedents may only see trickles of water where once mighty rivers ran.
Great desert scenery! I’ve heard that Lake Meade is shrinking. Hope you’ve had a good winter break.
It is interesting around the shrinking lake. Have had a great winter break. Back to the canyon in about six weeks.
Great shots, nice view of the great outdoor, Although is saddening to know that the lake is slowly shrinking.
Thanks. I’d actually like to see both these Colorado River ‘lakes’ dry up and blow away. Then there’d be no reason for the dams.