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As Lake Mead’s Water Levels Drop a Long-Submerged Town Reappears

Lake Mead National Recreation Area

Prolonged drought in the Southwest has caused a rapid drop in the water level of Lake Mead. That’s putting water supplies to some major cities in jeopardy. But it’s also exposed some of the area’s history and a long-submerged town. Arizona Public Radio’s Ryan Heinsius reports. 

Saint Thomas, Nevada was founded by Mormon settlers in the 1860s. But since the completion of the Hoover Dam in the 1930s, it’s been mostly underwater. The dam created Lake Mead, the country’s largest reservoir. With the lake’s level now near the lowest point in its history, several buildings and other remains of a once-bustling town are now completely exposed.

Credit Lake Mead National Recreation Area
A National Park Service employee surveys the foundations at St. Thomas, Nev.

Credit Lake Mead National Recreation Area
The foundation and stairway of the St. Thomas School House. It's also pictured in the black and white photo.

Christie Vanover is with Lake Mead National Recreation Area.

“There’s actually still the stairs that walked up into the schoolhouse. It’s just so rare that you’re able to find a city that was once under water.” 

Credit Lake Mead National Recreation Area
A salvage crew rafts through the town of St. Thomas near the ruins of a building as Lake Mead begins to submerge it in June 1938.

Lake Mead’s water level has dropped about 130 feet in the last 15 years. Cities that depend on Lake Mead for water include Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Phoenix. 

Credit Lake Mead National Recreation Area
The waters of Lake Mead began to take over the city of St. Thomas, Nevada, in 1937 and 1938.

Ryan Heinsius was named interim news director and managing editor in January 2024. He joined KNAU's newsroom as an executive producer in 2013. He covers a broad range of stories from local, state and tribal politics to education, economy, energy and public lands issues, and frequently interviews internationally known and regional musicians. Ryan is an Edward R. Murrow Award winner and a Public Media Journalists Association Award winner, and a frequent contributor to NPR's Morning Edition, All Things Considered and national newscast.
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