ICYMI: Rosen Urges National Park Service to Address Closed Boat Ramps at Lake Mead

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) sent a letter this week urging National Park Service Director Charles Sams to address the five boat launch ramps at Lake Mead that have been closed due to low water levels. The closures have left only one boat ramp currently open for Nevadans, causing multiple-hour wait times to launch boats, negatively affecting outdoor recreation and visitation to the lake, and putting a strain on local small businesses.

Las Vegas Review-Journal: Rosen asks park service to reopen Lake Mead boat launch ramps

By Colton Lochhead

Key Points:

  • Citing recreation access issues as well as the impact on small businesses that rely on tourism at the reservoir, Rosen sent a letter to National Park Service Director Chuck Sams asking him to provide details about what the agency is doing to reopen the closed ramps. If there are no plans, Rosen asked for Sams to provide the agency’s reasoning.
  • Rosen said in the letter that she is focused on addressing the drought conditions, and that she appreciates the work the agency has done in the past to accommodate the lower lake levels.

KLAS Las Vegas: Rosen Urges National Park Service to Address Closed Boat Ramps at Lake Mead

Senator Rosen: “It’s important to small businesses, it’s important to all those tourists, it’s important to locals who love the lake. It matters to our economy”

KVVU Las Vegas: Rosen Urges National Park Service to Address Closed Boat Ramps at Lake Mead

Reporter: “Today, Senator Jacky Rosen sent a letter to the National Park Service Director, asking for details on plans to reopen the boat ramps — or an explanation if there are no plans in place. Rosen says boaters are waiting for hours to launch boats at the only open ramp, which puts a strain on small businesses that rely on outdoor recreation.”

KSNV Las Vegas: Rosen Urges National Park Service to Address Closed Boat Ramps at Lake Mead

Reporter: “Today, Nevada Senator Jacky Rosen urged the head of the National Park Service to address this problem. She says it’s hurting businesses that rely on tourism in the area and cutting off access to the lake during prime fishing season.”

KTNV Las Vegas: Rosen Urges National Park Service to Address Closed Boat Ramps at Lake Mead

Senator Rosen: “All of those businesses around those areas, it matters. And so just exactly what you’d expect. People don’t come. Nobody buys anything. They can’t keep their business open because they can’t pay their expenses. I don’t want any businesses to close because of this.”