A ramp extension project will begin at Hemenway Harbor in Boulder City, Nevada on 2 June 2025. Led by the National Park Service (NPS) and carried out by contracted construction crews, the works aim to maintain safe and sustainable boating access amid fluctuating water levels. The harbour also hosts two prominent marinas, Lake Mead Marina and Las Vegas Boat Harbor, which will remain operational throughout the project.
The construction project aligns with the Sustainable Low Water Access Plan and the Environmental Assessment (EA), both approved in November 2023. As water levels in the Colorado River Basin continue to fluctuate, the plan provides direction to ensure continued recreational use, particularly for motorised boating.
The goal is to extend the Hemenway Harbor launch ramp to ensure it remains functional as water levels decline. The current ramp will be extended to reach a final elevation of approximately 1,000 feet above sea level in future phases if needed.
In the first phase, scheduled to begin in summer 2025, about 200 feet of new ramp will be added. The extension will bring the ramp to an elevation of 1,020 feet, allowing continued access for boaters as water levels approach that height.
Work will take place during the summer months, when water conditions are most favourable for underwater and shoreline construction. The first phase will reduce the number of open launch lanes to one and limit courtesy dock availability by half. To support safety and manage congestion, traffic on the water will be routed around the closed construction zone via marked buoys.
Hemenway Harbor is home to Lake Mead Marina and Las Vegas Boat Harbor, two established marinas on the lake. Both facilities will remain open and accessible during the ramp extension project, continuing to provide services to boaters and visitors.
Lake Mead Marina is the oldest marina on the lake and offers around 1,500 slips, dry storage, boat repairs and amenities. The facility caters to both recreational and long-term boaters with pump-out stations, rentals and event spaces.
Las Vegas Boat Harbor, located adjacent to Lake Mead Marina, provides covered and open moorage, a floating fuel dock and rental options that include waverunners and paddleboards.
The project marks the first of several phases under the NPS’s long-term vision to ensure recreational lake access as water levels continue to shift in the harbour.
