Echo Bay Marina Closes, Land Based Services Remain

Moapa Valley Progress

The Echo Bay Marina on Lake Mead discontinued its service last week as its concession contract expired. But National Park Service officials announced that land-based services will remain open at the site under a contract amendment that was signed at the last minute on Feb. 1.

The trailer village, RV site, land-based fuel station, dry boat storage and administrative building were scheduled to close on January 31. This is because a temporary contract under which these facilities were operating expired on that date. The temporary contract with Forever Resorts had been in effect since February of 2010 and included the operation of the marina services at the site.

On October 31, 2011, the park finally completed and released a long-awaited prospectus for a new contract at Echo Bay. This prospectus sought a concessioner to operate both the land-based commercial services and the marina and water-based fuel dock. But no proposals were submitted by the December deadline on the prospectus. Thus marina services at Echo Bay had to be discontinued, Park officials said.

Without a concessioner, land based services were also in jeopardy at the site. But by amending another contract within the park held by Forever Resorts, the land-based services at Echo Bay will now remain open, officials said.

“We’re very pleased that we’re going to be able to continue operations at Echo Bay,” stated Lake Mead Superintendent Bill Dickinson in a press release. “Nearly 200,000 people visit this area of the park every year.”

“Although the marina is closed, the launch ramp and courtesy dock will remain open,” Dickinson added. “Echo Bay is not closed. We encourage people to come on out and enjoy boating and fishing in the peaceful Overton Arm.”

Park officials said that they are working to restore water-based fuel sales at Echo Bay. But they admit that the process could take a few months.

“Our goal is to have water-based fuel available at Echo Bay before the busy summer season,” Dickinson stated. “In the meantime, people are reminded to know their boats’ limits. Fill up before you head out on the water and have a communication source like a marine-band radio, in case you need to call for help.”

The Park Service is maintaining a Ranger presence at Echo Bay including water-based emergency services, officials said.

Though there is no longer a marina in the Overton Arm, Park Service officials insist that they will continue to service the northern end of the Lake. The Park Service is currently making $4.5 million in improvements to the Echo Bay Access Road to make the four-mile road safer for traffic. In the project, crews are removing and replacing asphalt, installing new guardrail, extending drainage culverts, adding rip-rap and installing new tortoise fencing. The project was funded by the Federal Lands Transportation Program. The contractor is Las Vegas Paving, and improvements are scheduled to be complete in May. Another $250,000 in improvements is being made to the water and wastewater system to replace underground piping.