Todd and Kelly Goshorn came across this bighorn sheep stuck in the mud on the shore of Lake Mead while boating. Fortunately, Todd was able to place a rope around the ram’s horns and pull him from the clutches of the muddy entrapment.
As water levels drop in Lake Mead, more of the shoreline is becoming covered in a muckier version of quicksand. If Indiana Jones couldn’t get out without help, it’s no wonder that bighorn needed a hand.
People have been getting stuck in the mud, too. As the lake drops, it reveals a shoreline of saturated clay. The sun dries the top layer, creating the illusion that it’s safe to walk or drive on. But as soon as you sink below the first inch or two, the ground's true integrity (or lack thereof) is revealed.
The reservoir is currently below 30% of its capacity, and the water level is 170 feet below the high water mark established in ‘83. Receding water levels are revealing sunken boats and even bodies. As the Colorado River maintains pristine green golf courses in the desert and keeps fountains flowing in Vegas, Mead is quickly draining into a graveyard.
The impacts of the last 15 years of drought are impacting everything from recreational access to the wildlife and ecosystems surrounding the area. This ram is fortunate that Todd and Kelly were able to free him from that particularly dirty dilemma.
