THE GOVERNMENT NEWS DESKPERMANENT NPS STORY ARCHIVE
Organized by publication date and destination. Each story retains its permanent State & Nation address and official NPS source.
Lake Mead National Recreation Area will reopen Government Wash at 9 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 7, after completing a significant operation to remove long-term encampments and restore safety, environmental stability, and public access to Lake Mead.
Official NPS source
Lake Mead National Recreation Area will begin a significant road improvement project on Willow Beach Road on January 5, 2026, with construction anticipated to conclude by mid-March 2026.
Official NPS sourceThe National Park Service has released on November 18, 2025, a business opportunity soliciting proposals to award a new ten (10) year concession contract to operate Guided Water Tours, Food & Beverage, and Retail Services in Lake Mead National Recreation Area. Attachments and additional information at the link provided.
Official NPS source
The National Park Service has awarded LMNRA Guest Services a 10-year contract to operate visitor services at Willow Beach.
Official NPS source
Prescribed fires will be conducted in the Cottonwood area at Astin, Copper Mountain, and Ski Coves to remove invasive tamarisk.
Official NPS sourceThe NPS is no longer considering rerouting Willow Beach Road and will instead pursue options to address erosion and deterioration of the road within the existing alignment in order to ensure safe use of the road for the public and concessionaires.
Official NPS sourceThe National Park Service has announced an award of $8.66 million in Conservation Initiative funds from the Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act (SNPLMA) for a five-year project addressing impacts related to illegal roads at Lake Mead National Recreation Area (NRA).
Official NPS sourceThe National Park Service (NPS) has issued a prospectus for the Willow Beach Black Canyon Concession Contract in Lake Mead National Recreation Area.
Official NPS source
Lake Mead National Recreation Area plans to conduct a prescribed fire on Monday, September 23, 2024, in the Katherine’s Landing and East Cottonwood areas. The fire treatment will cover approximately seven acres and is expected to last one day, with additional patrols and monitoring taking place for up to two days after ignition.
Official NPS sourceLake Mead National Recreation Area is pleased to announce the reopening of several popular trails on October 1, 2024, following the summer seasonal trail closure. The annual closure, in effect from May 15 through September 30, is implemented to protect visitors from extreme summer heat.
Official NPS sourceThe Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Park Service (NPS) announce the completion of a commercial air tour management voluntary agreement for Lake Mead National Recreation Area. The agreement guides the FAA and NPS in managing commercial air tours over the park and portions of Grand Canyon Parashant and Avi Kwa Ame national monuments.
Official NPS source
The National Park Service is closing the Government Wash portion of Lake Mead National Recreation Area to motor vehicle access and overnight camping beginning Aug. 1, 2024.
Official NPS sourceA note of gratitude regarding the June 9, 2024, fire that took place at Las Vegas Boat Harbor Marina.
Official NPS sourceAs we head into Independence Day celebrations this week, Lake Mead National Recreation Area officials remind visitors to keep safety in mind at all times while visiting the park. This year, the park has already seen 19 fatalities, including four drownings and two heat-related deaths.
Official NPS sourceNational Park Service officials, with the assistance of a Las Vegas Metropolitan Search and Rescue team, recovered the bodies of two men today who have been missing since Monday.
Official NPS sourceLake Mead National Recreation Area officials continue to investigate the fire that broke out early Sunday morning at the Las Vegas Boat Harbor.
Official NPS sourceLake Mead National Recreation Area law enforcement rangers are conducting a traffic safety checkpoint on Saturday, June 15 to target people driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Official NPS sourceNational Park Service officials report that a fire broke out at Las Vegas Boat Harbor Marina at approximately 12:30 a.m. Sunday morning.
Official NPS sourceThe Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, Clark County, Moapa Valley Fire Protection District, Mt. Charleston Fire Protection District, National Park Service, Nevada Division of Forestry, Nye County, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and U.S. Forest Service have implemented fire restrictions in Southern Nevada.
Official NPS source
To help keep visitors and outdoor recreators safe during the record high temperature summer months, Lake Mead National Recreation Area is instituting seasonal closures to certain strenuous areas and park trails from May 15, 2024 – September 30, 2024. According to the National Weather Service, excessive heat is the leading weather-related killer in the Southwest United States.
Official NPS source
Law enforcement park rangers at Lake Mead National Recreation Area are seeking information from the public to help identify suspects involved in a vandalism incident at the Redstone Dunes Trail area.
Official NPS sourceThe Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Park Service (NPS) announce the availability of a proposed commercial air tour management voluntary agreement for Lake Mead National Recreation Area.
Official NPS sourceLake Mead National Recreation Area representatives joined fellow area stakeholders from the local community today to address shared interests and challenges, best practices, and innovative ideas to support the future of outdoor recreation on public lands in the Las Vegas area.
Official NPS source
Clayton Merrill, our local Biological Science Technician. Clayton joined the National Park Service in 2018 and has been at Lake Mead since 2019. Not only does his work support Lake Mead, but he also protects the community and is an all-around interesting person.
Official NPS sourceThe National Park Service issued a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) on the Lake Mead National Recreation Area Sustainable Low Water Access Plan after completing an Environmental Assessment.
Official NPS sourceThis report informs the public and partners of Lake Mead National Recreation Area of safety concerns, scheduled maintenance, trail closures, concessioner information, and events that may impact the use of park resources over the next two weeks.
Official NPS sourceBeginning January 1, 2024, Lake Mead National Recreation Area will transition to a cashless fee collection system, accepting only electronic card payments for entrance, lake use, and campground fees. Entrance stations will continue to sell passes but will no longer accept cash for payment.
Official NPS sourceBased on high levels of fecal bacteria in Arizona Hot Springs, the following park areas and facilities are closed, effective immediately, until further notice: Arizona Hot Springs Trail, Arizona Hot Springs, and the White Rock Canyon parking lot on Highway 93.
Official NPS sourceThe National Park Service will conduct two prescribed burns near Willow Beach, Arizona, on Monday, November 6.
Official NPS source
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – The National Park Service (NPS) has selected Mike Gauthier, a veteran of the agency, as the new permanent superintendent of Lake Mead National Recreation Area beginning mid-September. Gauthier has been the acting superintendent at Lake Mead since December 2022.
Official NPS sourceLake Mead National Recreation Area officials are reopening the park Tuesday after closing on August 19 as a safety precaution in anticipation of the arrival of Tropical Storm Hilary.
Official NPS sourceLake Mead National Recreation Area officials are announcing a complete closure of the park to recreational use effective today at 5 pm.
Official NPS sourceThe National Weather Service is predicting dangerous impacts to the local area from Hurricane Hilary, which is projected to move in over the weekend and into next week.
Official NPS sourceBOULDER CITY, Nev. – As the summer enters the home stretch going into August, officials remind visitors to continue to keep safety in mind while in the recreation area. Over the past weekend, Lake Mead National Recreation Area had two more fatalities in the park.
Official NPS sourceOn July 14th, 2023, Southern Nevada federal, state, and local agencies announced fire restrictions.
Official NPS sourceLake Mead National Recreation Area today released an environmental assessment (EA) as part of its Sustainable Low Water Access Plan (SLWAP) for Lake Mead. The EA will be open for comment through August 4.
Official NPS sourceBOULDER CITY, Nev. – Lake Mead National Recreation Area (NRA) saw multiple fatalities both on land and water this past weekend. Three people were killed in a multiple-car accident, two died by drowning, and one died of an apparent suicide. In addition, 23 people were rescued by park rangers, who also responded to criminal incidents, including assault, theft, and drug use.
Official NPS source
Lake Mead National Recreation Area just received a boost in supporting safety for visitors. The Assistance League of Las Vegas, a non-profit organization that supports under-privileged youth across the Las Vegas Valley, donated 74 children’s life jackets to help Lake Mead National Recreation Area re-stock lifejacket loaner stations around the park in preparation for summer.
Official NPS sourceLake Mead National Recreation Area is conducting a saturation patrol on May 13 to target speeding motorcyclists traveling along North Shore Road. This road sees an increase in vehicle traffic during warmer months. It is frequently used by motorcycles that travel at high speeds, which endangers other drivers in the area.
Official NPS source
Katherine Landing Fuel Dock, which has been closed to the public since January 19 as part of a modernization project, re-opens Friday, May 5, 2023.
Official NPS sourceThe National Park Service (NPS) is seeking public input on an environmental assessment that evaluates the impacts of improving the existing Cottonwood Cove Road. This road provides visitors with the only vehicular access from US Route 95 in Searchlight, Clark County, Nevada to Cottonwood Cove at the northern end of Lake Mohave.
Official NPS source
The National Park Service (NPS) announced today the selection of LMNRA Guest Services, LLC to operate Cottonwood Cove Resort and Marina on Lake Mohave.
Official NPS source
Depending on weather conditions, Lake Mead National Recreation Area is planning a prescribed burn adjacent to the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) Lake Mead Fish Hatchery.
Official NPS sourceScientists from the U.S. Geological Survey and National Park Service partnered on a first-of-its-kind, nationwide harmful algal bloom, or HAB, field study that began this summer and will continue over the next two years.
Official NPS source