About Lake Mead Lake Mead National Recreation Area (NRA) comprises both Lakes Mead and Mohave and the land surrounding these lakes, as well as the Shivwits Plateau on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. It offers a wealth of things to do and places to go year-round. Whether you enjoy the water recreation or land based activities such as hiking, camping, or sightseeing, Lake Mead NRA offers something for almost everyone. Although the name conjures the images of water, nearly 87% of the 1.5 million acres is land based with a wealth of natural and cultural resources. Three of America's four desert ecosystems--the Mojave, the Great Basin, and the Sonoran Deserts--converge within Lake Mead NRA. The National Park Service (NPS), under the U.S. Department of Interior, manages the recreation area. It was established as the country's first national recreation area by act of Congress on October 8, 1964, though it was jointly managed with the Bureau of Reclamation since Lake Mead's creation in 1936.