Interactive Lake Mead Water Level Map

Open the interactive Lake Mead map

Lake Mead’s water level is usually reported as a single number, which can be hard to visualize. I built this map to turn that number into an interactive view of the lake, so you can see how different water levels change the shoreline and expose the terrain below it.

What the map shows

The map has two main modes. Historical mode uses recorded Lake Mead pool elevations from the Bureau of Reclamation. Choose a date and the map draws the lake at the elevation reported for that day.

Scenario mode lets you choose any elevation from 700 to 1,230 feet. These values are hypothetical. Presets include the 1983 high-water level of 1,225.44 feet, along with lower elevations that make it easy to explore what could become exposed as the reservoir drops.

The map also includes different terrain views for examining water depth, exposed land, and the elevation of the lake floor. Click a point within the modeled lake to see its floor elevation and estimated water depth at the selected water level.

How the map works

Most modern elevation datasets see Lake Mead as a flat water surface, so they cannot show the terrain underneath it.

For the underwater terrain, the map uses USGS Open-File Report 03-320, an elevation model built from historic pre-dam contours, land elevation data, and bathymetric surveys of Lake Mead. The data is converted into elevation tiles that load as you move around the map.

Historical water levels come from the Bureau of Reclamation. The USGS terrain model and Reclamation water levels use different vertical references, so the map applies the elevation conversion documented in the 2001 Lake Mead sedimentation survey before comparing the two.

Once they are aligned, the simulation is fairly simple: terrain below the selected water elevation is shown underwater, while terrain above it is exposed. The difference between the water surface and lake-floor elevation gives the estimated depth.

Data sources

• USGS Open-File Report 03-320 — Lake Mead elevation and bathymetric model.
• Bureau of Reclamation — recorded Lake Mead water levels.
• Bureau of Reclamation 24-Month Study— official projections of future Lake Mead elevations. The map does not use these; it is linked for readers looking for a forecast.
• Bureau of Reclamation, Colorado River Interim Guidelines Final EIS (2007), Chapter 3 — section 3.3 describes flows into Lake Mead as primarily Glen Canyon Dam releases.
• 2001 Lake Mead Sedimentation Survey — bathymetric survey and elevation-reference documentation.
• USGS and OpenFreeMap— satellite, topographic, and reference map layers.

These are public U.S. government datasets. The map uses fixed source files for the terrain model so the underlying simulation can be reproduced and checked against the original data.

Common questions

What is Lake Mead’s current water level?

See the map for the latest water level. The most recent available Lake Mead elevation is retrieved daily from the Bureau of Reclamation.

Where does the underwater terrain come from?

The lake-floor terrain comes from USGS Open-File Report 03-320. It combines historic pre-dam contours with later land elevation and bathymetric survey data to create a continuous model of much of the Lake Mead basin.

What do the different map views show?

The normal view shows the simulated shoreline and exposed terrain. Depth view emphasizes estimated water depth, while emergence view makes it easier to see which submerged areas are closest to becoming exposed as the water level falls.

Why is some underwater terrain missing?

The available USGS elevation raster does not cover every part of the full Lake Mead boundary. Where the source dataset has no lake-floor elevation, the map leaves the area unmodeled instead of estimating or inventing terrain.

How much will Lake Mead rise with forecast rain?

This map cannot answer that, and it does not try to. It has no rainfall, runoff, or inflow model. The Bureau of Reclamation describes the Colorado River flowing into Lake Mead as primarily controlled releases from Glen Canyon Dam (Lake Powell), plus smaller tributary contributions (Reclamation, Colorado River Interim Guidelines Final EIS, 2007, Chapter 3, section 3.3). For official projections of future Lake Mead elevations, see the Bureau of Reclamation’s 24-Month Study. If you already have an elevation in mind, Scenario mode will show you what the lake looks like at that level.

Is this a Lake Mead water level map?

Yes. Historical mode draws the lake at the elevation the Bureau of Reclamation recorded for a chosen date, and Scenario mode draws it at any level from 700 to 1,230 feet. You can share a view: add ?date=YYYY-MM-DD for a recorded day, or ?level= followed by an elevation in feet for a hypothetical level.

How do I read the simulated shoreline?

Terrain below the selected elevation is drawn underwater and terrain above it is drawn as exposed. Clicking a point inside the modeled lake shows that spot’s lake-floor elevation and its estimated depth at the selected level. The shoreline is an estimate from survey-era terrain, so it does not tell you about current access, closures, or boating conditions.

Does the map work on mobile?

Yes. It runs in a modern browser and loads elevation data as needed while you move around the map.

Note: This is a visualization and simulation, not a forecast or navigation tool. Scenario elevations do not predict future Lake Mead water levels, and the simulated shoreline does not determine current access, closures, hazards, or boating conditions. Check official Bureau of Reclamation, National Park Service, and SNWA sources for current conditions and reports.

Related

Open the Lake Mead water level map · Will El Niño fill Lake Mead? · Landmarks in Clark County, Nevada · The NV Explorer atlas map · About this project