Hoover Dam's Lake MEAD is a large reservoir located on the Colorado River, between the states of Arizona and Nevada. It was created in 1935 when the Hoover Dam was built, and is the largest reservoir in the United States. It is named after Elwood MEAD, who was the commissioner of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation from 1924 to 1936. The lake provides water for the states of Arizona, Nevada, and California, and is also used for recreation, fishing, and boating.