I had the chance to be in Las Vegas last week for my other business (completely unrelated to my work here about Lake Lanier).

While I was there I drove north to Lake Mead, about thirty minutes north of Vegas. Mead is famous for being the location of Hoover Dam, but for a couple of reasons, there's also been a lot of talk in the newspapers recently listing Lake Mead just outside Vegas alongside Lake Lanier:

1. Lake Lanier supplies Atlanta with its water, Mead does the same for Vegas.
2. Mead has also been suffering through a record drought, with water down up to 40 feet.

What Lake Mead Looks Like Now


All those islands? They should be underwater. Mead is still struggling. It's less than half-full currently.

What Lake Mead Tells Us About Lanier

• Water usage is key. Everyone involved with Mead was complaining about Vegas and its huge water consumption. 100s of new swimming pools every day, new golf courses, new construction.
• Drought is cyclical. Mead did a great job of having charts everywhere showing the lake levels rise and flow over time. Everyone I asked came back with the same reply: "It's natural. The lake's coming back".

That's the kind of optimism I like to hear, but it doesn't get around the fact that we'd all be in a much better situation with improved water conservation.