More human remains found at Lake Mead as basin sees beneficial monsoon rains

BOULDER CITY, Nev. – More human remains have been found along the shores of Lake Mead, despite water levels appearing to temporarily halt their steady decline.

The National Park Service said the latest gruesome discovery happened Saturday along Swim Beach in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area.

Upon being alerted to the remains, rangers set up a perimeter with the assistance of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department’s dive team.

The area is not far from where partial remains were found on July 25 that authorities continue to try to identify.

A representative for the Clark County Coroner’s Office could not confirm whether the two discoveries were related or if investigators believe the remains are from the same individual.

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At least four discoveries of human remains have been made thanks to dwindling water levels along the reservoir.

A megadrought and an increase in consumption from Lake Mead caused water levels to drop to an 80-year low.

A significant monsoon season in the Southwest Has provided some relief along the basin and waterways that lead into the Colorado River system.

Rainfall totals over last 30 days

Data from the Bureau of Reclamation shows Lake Mead’s stage near the Hoover Dam has recovered by about a foot since dropping to a low of around 1,040 feet in mid-July.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says only around ten percent of the water in Lake Mead comes directly from precipitation.

The majority of its water sources come from melting snowpack from the Rocky Mountains.

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The first discovery of human remains happened in May not far from the Hoover Dam in area called Hemenway Harbor.

Police said the remains were found in a barrel that was exposed by low water levels and likely belonged to a homicide victim from the 1970s.

So far, an identity has not been released, and investigators continue to use DNA technology to positively identify the victim.

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Around a week later, on May 7, a second set of human remains were found at Callville Bay. The area is about a 30-minute driver north from Hemenway Harbor.

Police have not linked the second discovery to a murder case, meaning the incident is being treated similar to an accidental death.

The final two sets of remains were discovered several weeks later in an area known as Swim Beach.

Authorities have not ruled out the two latest discoveries belonging to one person but are treating the investigation right now as two separate cases.