Another set of human remains found at Lake Mead amid receding water levels

Human remains were discovered at a beach off Lake Mead in Nevada, marking the third such discovery in recent months as water levels in the reservoir continue to recede.

Park Rangers on Monday responded to Swim Beach, along the western edge of the lake around 4:30 p.m. PT. They established a perimeter around the body of water and then managed to recovered the remains later the same evening, according to a press release from the National Park Service.

The Clark County Medical Examiner is assisting with determining the cause of death. No other information about the remains, including the suspected age and identity, has been released.

Water levels at Lake Mead, the largest reservoir in the nation, have dropped at an unprecedented rate in recent months. And while it’s currently unclear whether the dropping levels resulted in the discovery on Monday, they have played a role in others this year.

A formerly sunken boat sits high and dry along the shoreline of Lake Mead at the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Tuesday, May 10, 2022, near Boulder City, Nev. (John Locher/)

In May, a metal barrel containing human remains were found on the lake’s shore. Officials believe the man died some 40 years ago.

Just weeks later, another set of remains were found partially buried in the sand.

Lake Mead, formed by the construction of the Hoover Dam, which was finished in 1935, is at its lowest levels since 1937 — which was when it was being filled for the first time, according to satellite images recently released by NASA.