Pages Uploaded in September 2015

September 2015 Posts (by Category & Title):
Nelson - Nelson NV Mines
Nelson's Landing - Nelson's Landing & Place Cove
UPDATED-Lake Mead-NSR - Lakeshore Drive (Part I) – LV Bay Overlook To 33 Hole Overlook
Lake Mead-NSR - Lake Mead's Ever Shrinking Lake
Desert Bighorn Sheep - Desert Bighorn Sheep
UPDATED - Pahranagat NWR - Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge
Pahranagat NWR - 09/24/2015 Trip Notes for Pahranagat NWR
UPDATED - Bitter Spring Road - Bitter Spring Backcountry Byway
Cottonwood Valley - Spring Mountain Ranch - Trip Notes for 09/10/2015
Roadtrips/Utah - Zion National Park

33-Hole Overlook (LMNRA)

             {Click on an image to enlarge, then use the back button to return to this page}

Last Updated on 01/17/2019  

(Fig. 01)

09/23/2015 Trip Notes: My friend Jim Herring, Connie and I took a trip out to Lake Mead for a picnic lunch at the 33-Hole Overlook (Figs. 01-03). Even though a little overcast, it was very hot and so windy, it was trying to blow our lunch off of the picnic table. I’ve certainly had better days out here. Jim and I tried to hike down to the water’s edge, but before reaching it we decided it was too hot to be out here hiking. Most impressive was how low the water line was as compared to my first visit here more than 10 years ago. The exposed landscape is quickly becoming a surreal landscape turning into more and more desert with every passing day. As a result of the roughly 15-year drought, today's water level is at 1,079-feet, down another 40 feet from just two years ago and more than 135 feet from the 2000 level of 1214-feet. At the present time, lake Mead is only at 38% full and hasn't been this low since they were filling it in the 1930s. Every day it is drawing closer to the 1,075-foot level, below which officials would declare a water emergency and begin rationing water allotments to Nevada and Arizona. The more the water level drops, the greater the chances that Hoover Dam's hydroelectric output might be seriously affected. Federal forecasters originally predicted that the Colorado River would flow at 71% capacity this summer, but they now say the figure could fall to 50% or lower. This summer, officials will make their projection for Lake Mead water in January 2016. If the estimate is below 1,075 feet, rationing kicks in: Southern Nevada would lose 13,000 acre-feet per year and Arizona would lose 320,000 acre-feet. California's portion would not be affected. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation officials say there is a 21% chance of Lake Mead plunging below 1,075 feet by January. The odds increase to 54% for 2017.

(Fig. 02)

(Fig. 03)

Gambel's quail (Callipepla gambelii)

While reviewing some of my pictures, I realized that I had never created a page on any of by Gambel’s Quail pictures captured over the past couple of years.  I’m sure that I have had more sightings than just those posted in this post; if I come across more in the future I will had some more to the post. Check out this post for pictures and information on the Gambel’s Quail … Gambel's Quail (Callipepla gambelii).

Daytrip – Bellagio’s Conservatory & Botanical Garden – Summer Celebration

On 07/31 Connie, Blake Smith and I went ventured down to the Bellagio Casino to see the summer’s exhibit at the conservatory & botanical garden. We all thought it was one of the best we have ever seen. There are two live 45-minute musical performances with varieties of jazz and symphonic harps daily (4:30 – 5:15 p.m. and 5:45 – 6:30 p.m.). It is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week and is complimentary to the public. If you want to experience this outstanding, one of a kind exhibit, you must visit it before September 12. Don’t miss it! Click this link to see pictures and description of the exhibit … Bellagio's Conservatory Botanical Garden - Summer Exhibit.

Daytrip – Sunset Park

07/31/2015 Trip Notes: On 07/31 Blake Smith and I went to Sunset Park for a morning hike. I have been wanting to hike the trails in this park for more than three years, and half just kept putting it off for some reason. Including the trail around the pond, there are more than 3.5 miles of trails. We were able to observe cottontail rabbits, long-eared rabbits, quail, and dozens of birds. Click the link for pictures and information … Sunset Park.