LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — Tropical Storm Rachel sent floodwaters rushing through the Las Vegas Valley over the weekend, but it did not deliver a major boost to Lake Mead’s struggling water supply.
Lake Mead remained at 26% capacity, with a water level of 1,037.75 feet above mean sea level. That level was still barely above record lows recorded just days before rain began falling in Southern Nevada.
While the storm brought much needed moisture to the region, experts said the impact on Lake Mead is limited.
“This storm definitely improves conditions in Lake Mead,” said Jack Schmidt, a senior research scientist with the Utah State University Center for Colorado River Studies. But Schmidt said it is more of a temporary fix than a long-term solution for water shortages across the West.
“To rebuilt the amount of water in Lake Mead or Lake Powell, is entirely based on what is snow melt from the winter snowpack,” Schmidt said…