Lake Mead community meeting set for Thursday with public Q&A planned

LAS VEGAS ( KLAS ) — An update on the situation at Government Wash is among the topics for a virtual community meeting scheduled Thursday, Sept. 19, at 3 p.m. for Lake Mead National Recreation Area.

Follow this link to the virtual meeting , or go to the park website’s “Plan your visit” page here . A Q&A session with the public is planned.

Vehicle access to Government Wash was shut down on Aug. 1 to stop criminal activity at the site, park officials said. Government Wash Road and 8.0 Mile Road were blocked, but hiking, biking and shoreline access by boat are still allowed.

“In the past five years, there have been 1,365 incidents in that area alone, requiring park law enforcement or firefighting personnel response,” according to Trouper Snow, chief ranger at Lake Mead.

Temporary camping had turned into long-term stays in the area, and officials said litter, unauthorized roads and damage to natural and cultural resources had gotten out of hand. A news release said closing the roads was the first step, and officials said they were committed to finding a permanent solution to the problem.

Other topics scheduled for discussion include:

• More to Mead, including information from Get Outdoors Nevada
• An update on the June 9 Las Vegas Boat Harbor fire
• The Sustainable Low Water Access Plan
• Facilities update
• Water quality

Also on the agenda, park officials will talk about upcoming volunteer opportunities .

A list of opportunities (above) through the end of the year was posted on the park’s website late last week.

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