Lake Manly vanishes: No more boating in Death Valley

Friday, March 8, 2024

Death Valley National Park’s authorities announced a significant decline in water levels at Badwater Basin, a pivotal drainage site within the park in March.

This update follows a brief period during which the basin was transformed into a temporary lake, affectionately termed “Lake Manly,” after it was replenished by February’s downpours and runoff from Hurricane Hillary.

Lake Manly, an ephemeral marvel nestled within the dramatic landscape of Death Valley, recently emerged as an unexpected tourist hotspot, inviting adventurers to explore its transient waters. This temporary lake, reborn from the remnants of Hurricane Hillary and seasonal rainfall, transformed one of the driest corners of the earth into a fleeting aquatic oasis, captivating visitors with the rare opportunity to boat and kayak in its shallow embrace.

This ephemeral body of water had attracted adventurers to navigate its unique expanse with kayaks and boats, a rare spectacle in one of the planet’s most arid environments. However, the National Park Service has now cautioned that accessing the diminished waters would result in lasting mud trails, spoiling the landscape until nature’s next replenishment.

Contrary to the barren image its name might conjure, Death Valley sustains a diverse ecosystem teeming with wildlife, vegetation, and aquatic life, thriving despite its harsh conditions.

Lake Manly’s resurgence was notably fueled by Hurricane Hilary on August 20, 2023. By February, bolstered by additional rainfall, the lake achieved depths of around a foot in certain areas, as reported by park officials. Yet, the advent of “intense winds” by the end of February dispersed the waters broadly. By Monday, the previously water-filled launch site off Badwater Road, where kayaks had set off on February 28, had dried up entirely.

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