On Dec. 31, 2006, the existing concession contract between the National Park Service and Overton Beach Marina, Inc. will expire. Contracted services provided by Overton Beach Marina, Inc. will be discontinued due to lowering water levels on Lake Mead. The marina facilities at Overton Beach will be moved to other locations on the lake so that they can continue to be enjoyed by visitors. The marina move will take place January-March 2007.
In September 2005, the National Park Service published the Low Water Amendment/ Environmental Assessment to provide a long-term strategy for addressing lowering water conditions on Lake Mead, particularly with respect to issues affecting public access to the lake. Included in the preferred alternative were plans to relocate the Overton Beach Marina. According to current Bureau of Reclamation lake level projections, the Overton Beach Marina will need to be moved by March 2007 when lake levels will drop below 1,124 feet. Originally, the NPS planned to bundle the current concession contracts at Overton Beach and Echo Bay. However, negotiations between the parties (National Park Service and Overton Beach Marina, Inc.) have not been successful; thus the Overton Beach Marina, Inc. contract will expire December 31. The Overton Beach concession floating facilities will be assigned to other Lake Mead Marinas that have the capacity to expand. Overton Beach land-based services are not economically viable for a concessions contract without the floating facilities and will therefore be discontinued.
The current concessioner at Callville Bay and Temple Bar, Forever Resorts, LLC, has expressed an interest in adding the slips from Overton Beach to their Callville Bay and Temple Bar marinas. Slip renters at Overton Beach can work with Forever Resorts, LLC to have their vessels moved to Callville Bay or Temple Bar. The current slip renters can also work with other concessioners at Lakes Mead or Mohave if they prefer to relocate to another location in the recreation area where space is available
As of March 31, 2007, the RV Park, store, gas station, dry boat storage area, and concession housing and maintenance facilities at Overton Beach will be closed. Overton Beach Marina, Inc. and the NPS will work with the long-term trailer village visitors and dry boat storage customers to remove their personal property (trailers, storage sheds, and accessory structures such as patios) from the park. Based on current Bureau of Reclamation lake level projections, the Overton Beach public launch ramp should remain operational through 2007. Visitors in the RV Park have options to move to alternative locations within the park. Currently, there are about 40 RV sites at Overton Beach and 90 RV sites open in the park at other locations.
The National Park Service is working with Overton Beach Marina, Inc. and Forever Resorts, LLC to ensure a smooth transition. Overton Beach Marina, Inc. will assist their customers by facilitating the removal of personal property from the long-term trailer village and dry boat storage areas.
Despite the lowering water levels, Lake Mead remains one of the largest reservoirs in the country, offering diverse recreational activities such as boating, fishing, sailing, diving, and canoeing/kayaking. The National Park Service intends to maintain public access around Lake Mead during this extended period of draught and lowering water levels on Lake Mead. Funding from both the Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act and from entrance fees has allowed the National Park Service to replace old deteriorating asphalt launch ramps with new concrete ramps, upgrade and extend utility lines, and upgrade water and wastewater systems to respond to lowering water conditions. Marina and boat tour facilities at Echo Bay, Callville Bay, Lake Mead Marina, Las Vegas Boat Harbor, Lake Mead Cruises and Temple Bar remain open and ready to serve the needs of the eight million visitors a year that come to Lake Mead National Recreation Area. Additionally, the marina and river raft concessioners on Lake Mohave are not affected by lowering lake levels on Mead. Those Lake Mohave facilities open for visitors include: Cottonwood Cove Marina, Black Canyon/Willow Beach River Adventures, and Lake Mohave Resort.
Visitors with questions for the National Park Service should call Public Affairs Officer Roxanne Dey at 702.293.8947.
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
