Willow Beach Road Improvement

Lake Mead National Recreation Area » Willow Beach Road Improvement

UPDATE - JUNE 5, 2025:

The National Park Service is terminating the development of an environmental assessment to improve Willow Beach Road. Willow Beach is a popular area for swimming, fishing, boating, kayaking, and camping in the Black Canyon area of Lake Mohave. The NPS, in collaboration with the Federal Highways Administration and with public input, previously proposed two action alternatives which would reroute the road. The environmental assessment initiated in 2019 evaluated two action alternatives to address ongoing erosion and needed repairs. During the planning process, it was determined that both action alternatives would result in significant resource impact. The NPS is no longer considering rerouting Willow Beach Road and will instead pursue options to address erosion and deterioration of the road within the existing alignment in order to ensure safe use of the road for the public and concessionaires.

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BOULDER CITY, Nevada - The National Park Service is seeking public comment on a revised environmental assessment to evaluate the impacts of improving the existing Willow Beach Road, which provides visitors with access from U.S. Highway 93 to the Willow Beach developed area within Lake Mead National Recreation Area.

This EA evaluates three alternatives for managing Willow Beach Road, describes the environment that would be impacted by the alternatives and assesses the environmental consequences of implementing the alternatives.

Under the no-action alternative, the current management of Willow Beach Road would continue with no planned management changes to the road. Under the Jumbo Wash alternative, portions of the road would be widened, and the existing road would be removed from a narrow canyon and realigned to cross over a ridgeline adjacent to Jumbo Wash, which would require the construction of two bridges. Under the northern alignment, which is the preferred alternative, portions of the road near the entrance station would be widened, and a new road would be constructed along a ridgeline located north of the existing road. This alternative reduces the amount of road located within the floodplain. The road would also include three pullouts and a scenic overlook.

Upon conclusion of this EA and decision-making process, one of the alternatives will become the long-term management option for Willow Beach Road.

The document is available for review online at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/lake. Comments may be submitted electronically via the website. Written comments should be mailed to Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Compliance Office, 601 Nevada Way, Boulder City, NV 89005. Comments must be received by December 20, 2020.

Contact Information

Carl Bush, Civil Engineer
Phone 702-293-8735