What Happened to the Hoover Dam and Lake Mead? ABANDONED?

Lake Mead has struggled its whole life with water retention. Originally, farmers routed canals from the Colorado River to water their crops, resulting in catastrophic accidents and devasting floods. Finally, the US Bureau of Reclamation got Congress behind building a dam to create a reservoir that would help regulate the Colorado River and therefore tame water in the Southwest, giving life to city's like Las Vegas, Phoenix, Los Angeles, among many small towns. Others followed like Glen Canyon Dam and Lake Powell, Parker Dam and Lake Havasu, and Parker Dam and Lake Mohave. None are more important however than Lake Mead, and while Hoover Dam gets all the credit, its really the water the southwest is after.

Since 2000, the SW US has been experiencing the worst Megadrought since the 1500s and no ends are in sight. Lake Mead has dropped to its lowest level ever and officials are having to cope with this new reality while fueling municipal growth. In this video, we'll review the full history and context behind Lake Mead (which includes Hoover Dam), break down how water actually works in the Southwest, and provide an update on the lake mead drought. Is Lake Mead drying up? Why are there boat wrecks and remains being found?

00:00 Intro
1:45 History of Hoover Dam & Creation of Lake Mead
10:11 Lake Mead History & Facts
11:00 Submerged Abandoned Town
15:02 B29 Bomber Wreck
17:12 Spillway Used For 1st & Only Time
17:37 Southwest North American Megadrought
21:35 Responses to the Drought

What Happened to Lake Mead? ABANDONED?

[LaBreeceTV]

I never thought I'd write a narritive about a Lake, nor find a way to make a 30 minute video about one. Anyway, I'm glad I can share some insight and context as to whats going on with arguably one of the most important bodies of fresh water in the US. As always, comment what Modern Ruin you'd like us to cover next!

[NeighborhoodBasketCase]

I wasn’t expecting such a well put together and informative video. Well done !

[ByronBolerDrums]

You make great stuff you do a great job in giving very interesting and thoughtful background info. You always end up getting a history lesson on top of the video topic!

[trickolas]

These documentaries are amazing. I hope more viewers find your channel and give you the recognition you deserve. Keep up the great work!

[diggingattycho]

Phoenix is not completely reliant on the Colorado river, there is another river chain Phoenix relies on to the east. It's reservoirs are doing fine, were planned and constructed long before Hoover was considered. Known as the Salt River Project. One of it's reservoirs was expanded back in the 1990's. We could loose the Colorado and still be just fine, there are many other sources of water Phoenix relies on. That are not as sexy as Lake Mead, but to get into it is something that would require a great deal more research. Not very entertaining for a youtube channel.
Those of us who grew up in Phoenix are not worried about the water. We live in a desert, what do you expect. We are more fearful of the influx of Californians.

[TracksideViews]

Congrats on great video and it gaining the traction you deserve on this channel

[bjacko]

If there is plenty of room on that desert to lay solar panels to distribute electricity, , how come it hasn't been done? No wind mills either

[johnchedsey]

Comment sections for anything Lake Mead/Powell related are quite something. I do like Las Vegas' attitude towards water in just assuming it'll never drastically improve, thus putting policy into place that is far more sensible for the region. Going forward the 7 states in the Colorado River Compact need to act like the megadrought is permanent and come up with usages based on that rather than decades old, overly optimistic water flows. Agriculture in the region needs to be less water intensive and crops should no longer be exported overseas.

The next couple of years are likely to be rough, given the "Triple La Nina" that seems to be happening. That's something that only has happened a couple times since 1950 and means another really dry winter is ahead, from what I understand.

[beatingobesity]

I like how people blame climate change for the Colorado water situation and don't consider the massive population increase in the southwest. Is it just assumed that this one river can grow along with the demand?

[marshalllucas]

Well done. Great information and delivery. I subscribed.

[shadow_house]

It hasn't been abandoned, we are just experiencing the La Nina cycle, means droughts in the South West of North America and Central America and heavy rainfalls and floods in East Asia. Learn the weather people.

[Kram_Farkel]

30 minutes! I didn't think that I would last but I was interested the whole way. Nice historic documentary.

[MaynardJamesKeenan]

Hey man I really love your modern ruin videos

[Maximara]

Nova/Horizon had an episode called "Where did the Colorado go?" (1974) and put a lot of the problems on putting the arbitrary division point at what is now Lake Powell which looses *0.5 million* acre-feet though its *sandstone* sides. That is water about 2 million people could have used going "poof".

[stevenstair]

How many of all the Golf Courses have been shut down that use 400 million gallons a year? And pools lawns and all the over building that keeps going on? I would think the farm Lands should be first priority of the water use....

[markfarrington]

This shit didn't happen overnight they should have worried about it 20 years ago I was !!!! But they wait until now and panic!!!! Hell it's 2 late now

[cdklaw]

I am in complete and total agreement with the idea that parts should be covered with photovoltaic grids to to generate electricity and prevent evaporation. Water has become too valuable...

[S.E.C-R]

I remember as a kid growing up in Southern California in the 70’s it was a big deal to go to the Hoover Dam and an even bigger deal to drive over it!

[EQOAnostalgia]

DOPE music! I like my apocalypse to have a kick ass soundtrack.

[rwdplz]

The main problem is California grows a lot of water-intensive crops that aren't that vital, like avocados, almonds, and pistachios.