Third Set Of Human Remains Discovered In Lake Mead As Water Levels Hit Record Lows

LAKE MEAD NATIONAL RECREATION AREA, NEVADA - JULY 01: A sunken World War II-Era Higgins landing craft that used to be nearly 200 feet underwater is being revealed near the Lake Mead Marina as the waterline continues to lower on July 01, 2022 in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Nevada. The water level at Lake Mead is at its lowest since being filled in 1937 after the construction of the Hoover Dam as a result of a climate change-fueled megadrought coupled with increased water demands in the Southwestern United States. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

In what has become a terrifyingly repetitive story, another set of human remains has been found at Lake Mead. Everything from sunken boats to murder victims has been found in the lake as its levels continue to lower in a stark visual metaphor for the worsening effects of global warming on our natural areas.

Even worse, the National Park Service announced that the body was discovered in a public swimming area, known as Swim Beach, on Monday afternoon. Park staff then worked quickly to establish a perimeter around the remains.

The first corpse was discovered in early May stuffed in a barrel with a gunshot wound. The second set of remains was recovered about a week later after that by paddleboarders. A cause of death was not able to be determined.

According to the Clark County Medical Examiner, a cause of death was also unclear for this most recent body discovered. Damage from a corpse being underwater for so long can make forensic investigations very difficult.

Lake Mead is currently at the lowest recorded level it has ever reached since it was first filled in the 1930s. Droughts made worse by increasing global temperatures have been contributing to levels of the lake lowering. The lake is a very important drinking water source for millions of people in the region, and one of the reservoir’s intake valves was already exposed this past April making it unable to draw water anymore.